Nearly three decades after her funny and generous son died as a result of injuries sustained during a sleepover, Julie Szabo believes justice has finally been done.
Arthur Haines was asleep on the top floor of a house before a trip to Sydney's Royal Easter Show in April 1998.
But he soon became the victim of a bitter neighbourhood dispute in inner-city Waterloo when Gregory John Walker threw a Molotov cocktail into the home's kitchen.
“The results were catastrophic,” Justice Hament Dhanji told the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Arthur became trapped on the third floor as the fire spread rapidly.
He was forced to jump from a window, smouldering as he landed with severe burns on up to 65 per cent of his body.
The 13-year-old died in hospital 11 weeks later.
More than 27 years on, Walker kept his eyes downcast as he was sentenced to a maximum of 10 years and 9 months behind bars for Arthur's manslaughter.
Arthur’s mother Julie Szabo clutched a framed photo of her son in the courtroom, where she was surrounded by loved ones.
Outside court, she became tearful as she described the relief her fight for answers was finally over.
“It’s been a long time after all these years,” Ms Szabo said.
“I’m grateful I got the truth for my son and justice has been served.”
Arthur had been spending his first night away from his mother when Walker threw the Molotov cocktail over a high fence.
He intended it to lob in the back yard but could not see where it landed because of the height of the fence, the court was told.
The 58-year-old demonstrated a “callous disregard for the enormity of what occurred" in the aftermath of the fire, Justice Dhanji said.
When a neighbour confronted him about the fire and said “I know you’ve done it”, the then-30-year-old replied: “If you think that was a big fire, wait until you see my next one”.
But the judge found Walker had since shown remorse.
In 2014, as police tried to mount a case against him, he told a witness he "wouldn't have gone through with it" if he knew children were inside the home.
Walker was arrested after NSW Police offered a $1 million reward for information in 2020.
He has an extensive criminal history with convictions dating back to the 1980s and was on parole at the time of the offending.
But evidence showed the former boxer had effectively turned his life around since his deadly actions in 1998, even establishing a not-for-profit to help young people.
“There is an element of him attempting to make good on his past wrongs," Justice Dhanji said.
But the judge noted Walker only admitted unlawfully killing Arthur in October before a trial for the more serious charge of murder.
That was despite Arthur’s family’s obvious desire and long wait for answers.
“While the ledger cannot be squared by the good done by the offender in recent times, that contribution must be taken into account,” Justice Dhanji said.
The sentence takes note of a malicious harm offence, also from April 1998, when Walker punched a neighbour and bit off part of his ear.
With time served, Walker will be eligible for parole in February 2029.
Justice Dhanji acknowledged the pain felt by Arthur's family and the wider community.
“No sentence I impose can right the wrong that has been done," he said.
Ms Szabo said she was grateful Walker had finally come forward and admitted what he had done to her son.
She hopes her son’s case will galvanise other parents who have lost loved ones to continue their pursuits for justice.
“It’s inspiration for other families to never give up,” the grieving mother said.
“You just keep going forward until you get answers and the truth, like I did today with my son Arthur.”
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