Krste Kovacevski, has brought a whole new meaning to re-kindling the fire in a relationship. Kovacevski’s divorce resulted in his ex-wife receiving the marital home. He was ordered to vacate his home within 40 hours, as dictated by a judgment handed down in the Federal Circuit Court. Prior to this, Kovacevski’s lawyer lodged the signed transfer documents of the home,that would transfer legal ownership of the property to his ex-wife. However, instead of handing over the property, Kovacevski instead decided to light the house on fire so that his ex-wife would not get the property.
Kovacevski was found in his granny flat in the early hours of 4 August 2016, calmly watching the home go up in flames. The fire caused the roof to cave in, and the nearby houses had to be evacuated.
When questioned by firefighters how the blaze happened, the 75-year-old simply pointed to a folder filled with divorce papers and said “that’s where it started”.
Kovacevski is now defending himself against criminal charges for damaging properyt by fire. However, his legal team told the court that the case relied on the question of who owned the property at the time of the blaze. If Kovacevski owned the property a the time of the fire, then he could do what he wanted with it.
The prosecution argued that that the home was joint-owned, and as such, he was not entitled to burn the property.
Kovacevski had lived in the property, his only property, since 1991 but had not insured the home or contents.
The matter has been adjourned until next month in which Magistrate Douglass will hand down a judgment after considering documents from the Family Court and property law.
For more updates on this case, check back again next month once the judgment has been handed down.
If you are currently in a dispute with your partner or ex-partner as to the assets of your relationship or wish to come to a more amicable resolution than that of Mr Kovacevski, contact Freedman & Gopalan Solicitors today on 02 8917 8700 or fill out the enquiry box and we will respond to you ASAP.