Jury clears woman of arson
Thursday, 13th September 2001.
A WOMAN who claimed she falsely admitted starting four fires at houses in Haverhill has been cleared of arson.
After a week long trial, a jury at Bury St Edmunds Crown Court took just under three hours to find Mary Morgan, 20, of Marlborough Court, Haverhill, not guilty of arson at houses in Haverhill last year.
She was also cleared of an alternative charge of arson with intent to endanger the life of Martin Manley.
Ms Morgairhad confessed to police that she had started the fires at homes she shared with Mr Manley, who is confined to a wheelchair with arthritis.
She said he had told her to start two of the fires so that he would be moved to a bungalow. On one occasion she said she started the fires intending to kill herself and Mr Manley, because he kept beating her.
During her trial, Ms Morgan denied starting any of the fires, claiming she had confessed because Mr Manley and his brother had threatened her with violence unless she did.
She said Mr Manley had threatened to kill her and make her life hell.
Mr Manley denied having anything to do with starting any of the fires. He admitted using violence towards Ms Morgan and punching her in the face once or twice, but said she had punched him too.
He denied pushing her down the stairs when she was pregnant, causing her to have a miscarriage.
After a week long trial, a jury at Bury St Edmunds Crown Court took just under three hours to find Mary Morgan, 20, of Marlborough Court, Haverhill, not guilty of arson at houses in Haverhill last year.
She was also cleared of an alternative charge of arson with intent to endanger the life of Martin Manley.
Ms Morgairhad confessed to police that she had started the fires at homes she shared with Mr Manley, who is confined to a wheelchair with arthritis.
She said he had told her to start two of the fires so that he would be moved to a bungalow. On one occasion she said she started the fires intending to kill herself and Mr Manley, because he kept beating her.
During her trial, Ms Morgan denied starting any of the fires, claiming she had confessed because Mr Manley and his brother had threatened her with violence unless she did.
She said Mr Manley had threatened to kill her and make her life hell.
Mr Manley denied having anything to do with starting any of the fires. He admitted using violence towards Ms Morgan and punching her in the face once or twice, but said she had punched him too.
He denied pushing her down the stairs when she was pregnant, causing her to have a miscarriage.
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