A father who has doused his daughter in petrol has now had his charges upgraded to two counts of attempted murder as his four-year-old daughter still remains in hospital suffering severe burns after she was set alight in her cot.
Edward John Herbert, 43, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court via video link from Hakea Prison on Tuesday.
He has also been charged with one count of threats to kill, being armed to cause fear and one count of unlawful act with intent to harm or endanger life, Perth Now reported.
The girl, who was three years old at the time of the incident, suffered burns to her face and upper body just hours after she had an early fourth birthday party.
To lessen the extent of her injuries, an off-duty police officer, known only as Constable Steph, put Herbert’s youngest daughter in her bath as she waited for paramedics to arrive at the scene.
Herbert was originally charged aggravated grievous bodily harm and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm.
At the time of the incident, the three children were taken to Royal Perth Hospital.
The girl’s two older siblings were taken home by relatives just days after the August 29 incident
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