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Woman Fighting For Life After Being 'Set On Fire' By Fiance: Police

Matthew John Davey has pleaded 'not guilty' to setting her alight.
Nicole Evans, 20, has suffered severe burns to more than 50 per cent of her body, including her face.
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Nicole Evans, 20, has suffered severe burns to more than 50 per cent of her body, including her face.

Tasmanian woman Nicole Evans will undergo surgery on Thursday followed by "many months" of treatment and rehabilitation after her fiance allegedly set her on fire in a backyard shed in Hobart.

Matthew John Davey allegedly doused Evans with an accelerant and then set her alight following a domestic dispute in the northern Hobart suburb of Chigwell, Tasmania Police said.

The 20-year-old remains in an induced coma at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where she was airlifted from Hobart on Tuesday. She has suffered burns to more than 50 per cent of her body and health professionals said on Wednesday they held "grave concerns" for her life.

Davey has pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and three charges of assault.

Not only will she need endless surgery, treatments, physical and mental help if she pulls through this horrible and heartbreaking tragedy but it will be ongoing for the rest of her life."

He appeared in court on Wednesday with his hands heavily bandaged, the ABC reports, having also received treatment for burns while under police guard at Royal Hobart Hospital following the ANZAC Day incident.

Tasmania Police said there was a history of family violence, but there were no family violence orders in place at the time of the assault.

Detectives, forensic police, forensic scientists and Tasmania Fire Service Scene Examiners have combed over the "outbuilding" where the fire took place and will present evidence in court.

A friend of the young woman, Sheena Mclean, has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money towards Evans' medical care.

She describes Evans as "a precious daughter, a sister, an aunt and my beautiful soul of a friend".

Nicole's friend describes her as "a true beauty" and "a gorgeous person".
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Nicole's friend describes her as "a true beauty" and "a gorgeous person".

"She was quiet and shy at times, but when she was loud and outgoing, oh boy, did she put a smile on your face," Mclean wrote.

"A true beauty she is, and a gorgeous person in general and one of the most caring and forgiving and loving people I know."

"Not only will she need endless surgery, treatments, physical and mental help if she pulls through this horrible and heartbreaking tragedy but it will be ongoing for the rest of her life and also for her family."

Davey has been remanded in custody and will appear in the Supreme Court on June 13.

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