An arsonist who destroyed Melbourne's floating nightclub, ATET, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, with the venue's owner continuing a separate legal battle with the City of Melbourne council.
Jemli Williams Mariner, 34, was found guilty of arson in February and sentenced Thursday in County Court to the jail term, which will be followed by a two-year community correction order. Mariner was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid community service. He is a New Zealand citizen and faces potential visa cancellation and deportation.
Mariner and an unidentified accomplice set the ATET nightclub ablaze on the Yarra River in central Melbourne on January 31, 2023. Mariner has refused to reveal the identity of the second arsonist. Outside the court, ATET owner Jake Hughes stated that police had believed the attack was a "paid job" but had not uncovered who orchestrated it. Hughes expressed a desire to understand the motive, noting Mariner had no apparent connection to the venue.
Hughes, who invested more than $2 million and five years into building ATET before its October 2022 opening, is engaged in a legal dispute with the City of Melbourne council over the venue's operating license. The council revoked the license in June 2023 following numerous community complaints. Although ATET reopened briefly after the arson attack, the revoked license prevented further operation.
Mr. Hughes initiated legal action against the council in December 2023, and the case is currently before the Supreme Court. A verdict is expected in August if a settlement is not reached between Hughes and the council. Hughes intends to reopen ATET pending the court's decision.
During the sentencing, Judge David Sexton characterized Mariner's actions as "brazen" and "hapless" and stated the arson was "not random, impulsive offending." Hughes previously told the court in April that the firebombing had "turned [his] life upside down" and his dreams "to ash." He described the sight of the venue in a "smouldering mess" as heartbreaking, emphasizing the personal investment and labor from family and friends in its construction.
Hughes also conveyed ongoing fear of further attacks, stating, "We did not know who or what was behind it, but it seemed clear that it was a targeted, planned attack, and that there may well be a level of organised crime involved." He expressed concern about personal targeting and the motive behind the destruction, which he believes was intended to bankrupt the business.
