Woman guilty of reckless conduct in fire case

Thu, 03/19/2009 - 9:50pm
By: John Munford

Mistrial declared on arson charge

A partial mistrial has been declared in the arson case against a south Fayette woman who admitted to setting grease rags afire in her garage Feb. 18, 2008.

Ginger Leigh Coursey was found guilty of three counts of reckless conduct for setting the fire, but a mistrial was declared on the arson charge.

The reckless conduct charges stem from the fire endangering three children who were sleeping in the house at the time. Coursey testified that after she set the fire she got the children out of the house.

Superior Court Judge Paschal A. English delayed sentencing until 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Coursey testified that she set the rags afire in a bid to get her husband’s attention after a marital spat.

Coursey told the jury that she never intended to harm her two grandchildren and another child who were sleeping at the home Feb 18, 2008. No one was injured as her now ex-husband, retired firefighter Billy Coursey, used a water hose to put out the flames before fire crews arrived at their Morris Drive home.

Coursey, in a written statement to investigators, said she started the fire in an effort to get her husband’s attention on the life they had built together so “he would not want to throw that away.”

“I was fighting to save our marriage of 22 years,” Coursey said in court. “I couldn’t see any other way of life other than being with him.”

Coursey said the couple often argued about money issues and that her now ex-husband had an affair with her long-time best friend.

Billy Coursey, who took the stand earlier in the trial, was asked by his ex-wife’s defense attorney if anyone was hurt.

“I’ll hurt for the rest of my life that she ever went to that extent,” Mr. Coursey replied.

One issue in the trial is whether a black substance on the walls near the fire was damage from the fire or not. Georgia law requires a part of the home to be damaged for an arson charge to be upheld.

County Fire Marshal David Scarbrough testified that the black substance on the wall was damage from the fire. He also noted that the fire created some smoke damage in the attic area.

Ginger Coursey contends the black substance was residue from her now ex-husband’s biodiesel conversion machine, which he used to create diesel fuel from grease provided by local restaurants.

The rags Ginger Coursey set afire were on top of the biodiesel conversion machine, Scarbrough said. Had she become incapacitated it’s possible everyone in the house that night could have died as the fire spread, Scarbrough said.

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Gene61's picture
Submitted by Gene61 on Sat, 03/21/2009 - 10:13am.

I smell mother of the year here! Another crack pot and another attempt to bring attention to a martical spat? Please, jail time is what will cure of her interest in fire.

Great example there mom on how to talk things out using fire.


Gene61's picture
Submitted by Gene61 on Sat, 03/21/2009 - 10:12am.

I smell mother of the year here! Another crack pot and another attempt to bring attention to a martical spat? Please, jail time is what will cure of her interest in fire.

Great example there mom on how to talk things out using fire.


Shoebox's picture
Submitted by Shoebox on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 6:49pm.

Adultry used to be...but people have conveniently forgotten that! Wonder why??? They both have tragic consequences. This is a very sad example. WAKE UP AMERICA!


Submitted by elle200 on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 9:33pm.

....and in this case, caused them to divorce. Which could prevent another horrible argument with a bad outcome. So, it works out better. Who the heck would want these two nut jobs to stay married?

Best thing these two did was divorce.

Submitted by elle200 on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 3:18pm.

....setting a fire in a dwelling not yours, had intent, and had damage to the dwelling. As there was a small amount of damage that was testified by the Fire Marshall, a few had doubts whether the fire caused the actual damage, did not believe the fire marshall. therefore arson could not be proven as the item the rags were on were not part of the house. As the jury had to be unanimous, the few dissensions were firm that they would not change their minds.

I believe that these few ruled with their hearts and not according to the letter of the law, and I think they felt that first degree arson was too heavy of a charge given the small amount of damage the flames caused. I think people felt Ms Corsey was a misguided but good person which influenced them more than the evidence. These type of people should never sit on a jury, as they lost their objectivity and were more influenced by her plight as a distraught wife. In that, the defense did a great job of planting that seed even though they took a beating for it. I believe the dissenters ruled on sympathy and used reasonable doubt of the small amount of damage as an excuse. Jurors disavow the sworn duty when that occurs.

One is supposed to be impartial when on a jury and make decisions on the facts and testimony. It was Ms Corsey's lucky day that a few jurors had a soft spot over the heavy charge vs the little damage as well as the sordid stories by the defense. And thank goodness it was a jury that recognized it couldn't go any further vs trying to influence anyone that would have simply gone with the majority.

Of course, it should be asked...why would a trained fireman have a home made diesel fuel making machine in his garage and think that was a good idea, especially with children involved? If that's not illegal, we should be all scared.

Submitted by elle200 on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 9:40pm.

....she should have been charged with 3rd degree arson. Burning of a personal possession.

matt.barnes's picture
Submitted by matt.barnes on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 4:54pm.

Bio-Diesel is just vegtable oil mixed with diesel fuel. Its really not any more dangerous than having a couple spare quarts of oil in your garage.


Submitted by elle200 on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 9:27pm.

....except when one lights the rags laying on top it.

Ketey's picture
Submitted by Ketey on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 1:50pm.

My husband cheated on me. After finding out (by him announcing that he was leaving me for her), revenge was the furthest thought from my mind. Yes, what he did to me was painful beyond belief. But in the long run it was the best 25th anniversary gift he could have given me. He gave me my life back. Now he's her burden.


Submitted by Spyglass on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 11:11am.

I'm stunned.

Submitted by skyspy on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 11:50pm.

To do something like this. Just when you thought you have heard it all.

So much for Darwins little theory....lets see.....rabid coyote......crazy ape in the jungle.....crazy woman who actually wants to keep a man who cheated on her, and thinks that burning down their home will make him want her more........Huh?? Thats a good one.

The lesson I take from this is that the human animal is just more destructive than the 4 legged animals....if that is considered "evolution" then maybe Darwin was smoking some good stuff back in the day.

Submitted by mysteryman on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 9:16pm.

Nice nothing says i love you more than a warm crackling fire,, can you say... Hey honey i smoked the kids... What a selfish ignorant clown, put everyone at risk, cause you and hubby cannot work it out, you know it takes two to tango... Maam rest assured if you do time or not, there will be no shortage of heat where you are going, when the bell tolls.....BLESS

Shoebox's picture
Submitted by Shoebox on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 9:01pm.

when the husband betrayed his wife and burned up their marriage contract by breaking the marriage vows. Husbands...love your wives as Christ loves us...


Submitted by Spyglass on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 11:12am.

I figured as much. Smiling

matt.barnes's picture
Submitted by matt.barnes on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 11:50am.

Of course it was the husands fault! He cheated on her! Obviously the only rational thing to do was try and burn the house down for attention. Only crazy women seek divorce and all the man's money.


Cyclist's picture
Submitted by Cyclist on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 11:41am.

Mrs Cy tells me all the time it's my fault. Smiling
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