A man accused of setting his former partner alight in a Sydney apartment block will spend another night in custody while the services of a Thai interpreter are secured.
Surachet Suska-Ngachareon, 28, opted to stay in the cells as his case was mentioned in Central Local Court on Tuesday, following the alleged attack on his former partner Nataya Sripho, 34, on Friday night.
Police were called to the Regis Towers apartment block on Castlereagh Street in the CBD about 6.15pm on Friday and arrived to find a woman with burns to her head and upper body.
Police were told the woman was doused in a flammable liquid before she was set alight.
The woman, an Australian resident of Thai background, was taken to St Vincent's Hospital before she was transferred to Concord Hospital in a critical condition.
Shortly after the incident, emergency crews were called to Ultimo where they found a 28-year-old man with burns to his arms.
He was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital and treated for his injuries, before being charged on Monday afternoon with cause wounding/grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, and breaching an apprehended violence order.
The court heard on Tuesday that the services of a Thai interpreter were not immediately available.
Mr Suska-Ngachareon did not apply for bail, and it was formally refused.
The case was adjourned until Wednesday.
Ms Sripho's parents told officials at the Thai consulate that they knew their daughter’s relationship was a tumultuous one but they never thought her life was at risk.
They are considering whether to come to Australia from their town in north-eastern Thailand.
"I think they are still in a sort of shock," a spokesman from the Thai consulate said.
Ms Sripho had been living in Australia for at least two years and has permanent residency but had not been working for the past month.
Mr Suska-Ngacharoen has an online account that was used to buy brass knuckle dusters and an expendable police baton last year.
The products were delivered to his Regis Towers address under his full name.
Ms Sripho's Facebook status was changed to "open" on February 9.
"Aof Esso Esso", believed to be an alias for Mr Suska-Ngachareon, posted on the same day: "it's piece of shit".
