The attorney representing a man accused of dousing his fiancee with gasoline and setting her on fire this week claims that it was a "horrible accident ."

Judith Malinowski , 31, is in critical condition after she was engulfed in flames at a gas station in the suburb of Gahanna in Columbus, Ohio, on Aug. 2. WBNS-TV reports that police say Michael Slager, 40, poured what is believed to be gasoline on Malinowski in the parking lot that day, before igniting her.

WBNS-TV also reports that Malinowski has identified Slager as the culprit. Police charged him with felonious assault and aggravated arson .

But when Slager appeared in court on Wednesday, Doug Shaw, his attorney, said that his client was in a wheelchair due to injuries sustained as he rescued the woman he loves.

Shaw said that his client was "horrifically burned" while trying to save Malinowski, but he couldn't comment on how she became covered with a flammable liquid.

A witness who called 911 at the Speedway gas station said that it looked like the couple had been arguing , according to the Columbus Dispatch. The caller also said that Slager used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames.

Slager's bond was set at $800,000 on Wednesday. He's due to appear in court again next week.