Arsonist Jailed for 1998 Killing of Sydney Teen During First Sleepover
Gregory John Walker was sentenced on December 23, 2025, in the NSW Supreme Court to a maximum of 10 years and 9 months for the manslaughter of 13-year-old Arthur Haines in a 1998 arson in Waterloo, Sydney. Walker threw a Molotov cocktail into the kitchen of the house where Arthur was sleeping during his first sleepover. Arthur was trapped on the third floor and later died in hospital 11 weeks after the fire from burns covering about 65% of his body.
The fire originated from a bitter neighbourhood dispute in inner-city Waterloo around the time Arthur was due to attend the Royal Easter Show in April 1998. Judge Hament Dhanji described Walker's actions as showing callous disregard but noted that Walker had expressed remorse and sought to reform by founding a not-for-profit organisation for young people.
Walker, aged 58 at sentencing, has a long criminal history dating back to the 1980s and was on parole when the offence occurred. He admitted to unlawfully killing Arthur in October 2025, just before a murder trial was set to commence. NSW police had offered a $1 million reward for information in 2020, leading to Walker's arrest.
With time served, Walker will be eligible for parole in February 2029. Arthur's mother, Julie Szabo, and the family had waited 27 years for answers. The court acknowledged the ongoing pain experienced by Arthur's family and the community.
