Murder-accused 'thought he was going to torch car'

One of two men accused of murdering a man in an arson attack claimed he had no prior knowledge "this other guy was going to torch the house".

After a fire in Wolverhampton, the city's crown court heard Dale Francis and Daniel Tatters deny murdering Akashdeep Singh, who suffered burns and inhaled smoke.

Mr Tatters, 26, of no fixed address, and Mr Francis, 37, of Clare Street, Basford, Stoke-on-Trent, also denied attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life over the fire in Plascom Road, East Park, on 25 June.

Mr Francis said someone asked "if I did him one or two favours he would cancel" a debt and he "asked me to take someone to Wolverhampton to burn out a car", the court heard.

Prosecutors allege the defendants travelled from the Stoke-on-Trent area to Wolverhampton and used an inflammable liquid to set Mr Singh's home on fire, leaving him and his mother trapped upstairs.

Mr Francis was arrested in September, prosecution KC Mark Heywood told jurors.

He made no comment throughout the interview process but, after being charged, put forward a prepared statement.

In this, read to the court by Mr Heywood, the defendant said he "owed someone under £800" and was struggling to pay the money back.

It went on: "I was simply asked to take someone and act as the lookout."

The statement continued that he met someone, they got into Mr Francis's car and the "other person had the jerry can which was in a black bin bag".

"I followed the guy. He showed me the house and the car. He then said that he was going to torch the house. I told him that was not what I was told," Mr Francis' statement added.

"I then started to retreat and walk back. The other guy carried on towards the house.

"My mind started to boggle and I started to get into a panic as this was not what I had agreed to."

The statement went on: "The other guy walked off.

"I then started to hear banging noises. I wanted to see what the noise was so I walked a few metres up and saw flames everywhere."

Mr Francis "did not have any intention to cause any serious harm or death to anyone", the statement said.

Jurors were told Mr Tatters made no comment in interview and it is anticipated he will deny being present at the scene.

The trial continues.

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