Perth father who set daughter on fire asked 'WTF happened?' in letter from jail.

By Eliza Laschon.

A Perth father who doused his children in petrol and set one alight told their mother he “cannot remember any of what happened on that night” and would “live with it for the rest of his life” in a letter from prison.

Edward John Herbert has pleaded not guilty on account of an unsound mind to five charges, including attempting to kill his two daughters at the family’s home in Doubleview in August 2015.

Herbert’s three-year-old daughter suffered burns to her upper body and face, which the WA Supreme Court earlier heard caused her severe and life-threatening burns and left permanent scarring.

On the third day of the judge-alone trial, Justice Lindy Jenkins released a letter written from Herbert to the mother of his children from prison.

“I don’t know where to start, baby,” Herbert wrote.

“It’s me, Eddy, not that crazy person that I hate. He’s dead and never coming back.”

Herbert told his partner he could not remember the events that unfolded on August 28, 2015.

“WTF happened?” Herbert wrote.

“I love my kids more than life itself and you, babe.

“They said I had a mental illness and smoking weed is very bad for my type.”

The court also heard from doctor Steve Patchett who said it was probable Herbert suffered from bipolar affective disorder.

Dr Patchett said there was “evidence of psychosis” on the day and night of the incident, and that it could be linked to Herbert’s alcohol and cannabis consumption.

This post originally appeared on ABC News.