The relatives of Nerol Doble, a grandmother from Bribbaree, have expressed the profound trauma and sorrow they have endured following her tragic murder.
Shannon James Doble, her son, entered a guilty plea last September for the murder of his mother, and a sentencing proceeding at the NSW Supreme Court has revealed that he has no memory of the incident.
Justice Julia Lonergan is scheduled to deliver a sentencing decision next month.
A family member of Nerol Doble, who tragically lost her life after being set ablaze by her son, shared her feelings of self-loathing for her inability to prevent the attack, describing her existence as a “continuous nightmare.”
WARNING: The following report contains potentially distressing content.
Shannon James Doble confessed to the murder of his 65-year-old mother on January 2024 at their property in Bribbaree, New South Wales. At the time, he was residing in a modified bus on the premises and admitted to pouring fuel on Ms. Doble and igniting it, following a dispute over using a jerry can for a lawnmower.
During the Supreme Court hearing, a visibly emotional relative, who was 16 at the time of the incident, recounted her attempt to assist Ms. Doble. She expressed that her grandmother was “the other half of my soul,” emphasizing the depth of her feelings with, “I cherished her more than words can describe.” She further lamented, “The hatred I have for myself for not being able to stop him… I live in continuous nightmares every day,” highlighting the anxiety that has plagued her since the murder.
Justice Lonergan commended the young woman for her courage, saying, “You were brave and strong… that day.”
Nerol Doble, a grandmother, succumbed to her injuries at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney the day following the attack. In her closing remarks, Crown prosecutor Virginia Morgan from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions informed the court of the severe burns Ms. Doble sustained, stating, “The suffering she must have endured.” She also noted that when Shannon Doble doused his mother with gasoline, he remarked, “You’re going to burn, bitch.”
A registered psychologist, Vanessa Edwige, testified during the hearing, explaining that she had met with Doble twice earlier this year. She reported that he claimed to have no recollection of the crime, stating that his mother’s voice had caused him distress on the morning of the incident. Edwige suggested that this triggered a dissociative response linked to past trauma, stating, “I believe he said he went blank. He talked about being an outsider.”
A statement presented to the court on behalf of the family described the act as representing “the lowest form of humanity,” detailing their daily struggles with trauma. The statement conveyed, “It is survival most days. The trauma is horrific. We avoid social outings. It is exhausting to put on a brave face. There is no forgiveness, ever.”
Doble was absent from the court proceedings, but his attorney, senior public defender Michael King, indicated that a lengthy sentence would be forthcoming for the murder. He also mentioned that Doble’s troubled childhood had contributed to a personality disorder, noting, “There is no expression of remorse about what happened to his mother.”
At the end of the hearing, Justice Lonergan extended her condolences to Ms. Doble’s family, with a sentencing announcement anticipated next month.
Support Services:
Men’s Referral Service (24-hour crisis line):
Relationships Australia
NSW Domestic Violence Line:
Qld DV Connect Womensline:
Vic Safe Steps crisis response line:
ACT 24/7 Crisis Line:
Tas Family Violence Counselling and Support Service:
SA Domestic Violence Crisis Line:
WA Women’s Domestic Violence 24h Helpline:
NT Domestic violence helpline:
