A VICTORIAN woman, who doused a man in petrol and set him alight after finding out he had touched her breasts, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Gary Stewart, 50, had touched the breasts of Kerry Anne McNiven the day before she set him alight at Wangaratta in November last year, the Victorian Supreme Court heard today.

Her barrister Nick Papas, SC, told the court that McNiven, 44, was drunk when her breasts were touched and was unaware it had occurred, but she was later told of the touching by a friend.

McNiven attacked Mr Stewart on the banks of the Ovens River, dousing him in petrol, before setting him alight.

Mr Stewart, who suffered burns to more than 70 per cent of his body, died in a Melbourne hospital several weeks after the attack.

A trial for McNiven was expected to begin today but Mr Papas indicated she would plead guilty to manslaughter.

A pre-sentence hearing for McNiven will be held tomorrow.