Australian Black Metal Fan Apologizes For Church Torching

Danny Rose of News.com.au has issued the following report:

A heavy-metal music fan who torched a 108-year-old church, and who maintained during his court appearances that remorse was a sign of weakness, said today (Sept. 13) he was sorry.

Novak Majstorovic (photo),19, of St Albans in suburban Melbourne, told Victoria's County Court that he was aware of the "emotional suffering" he had caused.

Majstorovic, a fan of a Norwegian black metal band which advocated the burning of churches, had pleaded guilty to torching St Albans Uniting Church in August 2004.

"I'm aware of the impact that it has had. I'm aware that it has caused some amount of suffering ... emotional suffering," he told Judge Jeanette Morrish.

Majstorovic was asked by his legal counsel Rob Stary if he was sorry.

"I am," he said.

The court also heard Majstorovic had sent a letter of apology to the parishioners, stating he was "open to any coherent attempts to reform my thinking".

He told the court he would take part in counselling and further psychological treatment if sent to a youth training centre and not an adult prison.

Judge Morrish described Majstorovic's apology as a major step.

"The last time we were all here, there was a total absence of remorse, in fact a total disdain for remorse," she said.

While in the dock, Majstorovic, dressed in black, sat hunched over but with his eyes fixed on proceedings.

The court also heard he was the sole carer of his mother, who had schizophrenia, that he was isolated socially and he had taken on the beliefs espoused by "black metal" band BURZUM.

BURZUM espouses anti-Christian, anti-church beliefs and the court heard its lead singer was believed to be in jail for murder.

"Novak has been seduced by black metal music," Steve Riordan, a juvenile justice worker from the state Department of Human Services, told the court today.

"He believes the doctrines and has yet to be challenged over that."

Mr Riordan also said Majstorovic had a better chance of reform if sent to a juvenile facility, and would become a target if sent to an adult prison.

Majstorovic will reappear for sentencing on September 26.