In fact, it is claimed Mr Vella had every intention of turning up to Sutherland District Court on Thursday to speak on behalf of his mate as he faced a sentencing hearing over the fire incident in May 2014, which left Mr Vella in hospital for five days and with burns to 5 per cent of his body.

However, defence lawyer Laura Fennell told the court Mr Vella tragically died earlier this month, identifying him as the man whose body was found floating in Wollongong Harbour on March 19.

"His father tells me Mr Vella had epilepsy, and believes that may have played a part in his death," Ms Fennell told the court.

Despite Mr Vella's death, Lord will still face sentencing for injuring him, which the court heard amounted to far more than just "a prank gone wrong".

Court documents reveal Lord and Vella joined friends at a house in Figtree to watch the State of Origin football, however when the others went to bed, Lord poured lighter fluid over Mr Vella, lit a piece of toilet paper and threw it onto Mr Vella, who caught alight.

Lord quickly left the house, while his friends helped Mr Vella extinguish the flames.

Mr Vella was taken to Wollongong Hospital then transferred to the Concord Hospital burns unit. Lord was arrested in Unanderra less than an hour later.

Ms Fennell asked the court to take into account three major factors when sentencing Lord; an acquired brain injury he received in 2009 and his diagnosed bipolar and substance abuse dependence disorders.

Lord, 28, from Nowra, will also be sentenced over a 2012 incident in which he broke into a unit in Wollongong, stole a Swiss army knife and got changed into jeans belonging to the female occupant.

He then used the knife to terrorise shoppers and business owners in west Crown Street, before hopping into the back of a car waiting at traffic lights and demanding to be driven to "the top of town".

Lord will be sentenced next month.