Woman forced to start fires
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 6th September 2001.
A WOMAN was told to start house fires by her violent partner, a court was told this week.
Mary Morgan, of Marlborough Court, Haverhill, denies five charges of arson.
The 20-year-old is charged with starting fires at Wellington Terrace, Haverhill, last March, endangering the lives of Martin Manley and his daughters.
She is also accused of starting a fire at Strasbourg Square in June, another fire at the same property a week later and a fire at another property in Strasbourg Square in July.
Duncan O’Donnell, prosecuting, told Bury St Edmunds Crown Court Morgan had deliberately started four strikingly similar fires in four different properties she was living in.
Her partner of three years Martin Manley, who suffers from arthritis and uses a wheelchair, was living with her at each property.
On one occasion, a couple living next door at Strasbourg Square had just put their children to bed when they looked outside to see flames shooting over the roof.
A second fire had broken out in one Strasbourg Square flat after the couple moved out. Both Morgan and Mr Manley, however, still had keys, the court was told.
Mr O’Donnell said Morgan had told police she did not start the fires, but then admitted to Sandra Fields, mother of Mr Manley’s third daughter, that she was responsible.
Later Morgan went to the police and confessed to starting the fires, saying Mr Manley had told her to do it so that he could get a bungalow. On one occasion she had said she had hoped to kill herself and Mr Manley, because he kept hitting her.
Mr Manley, 42, denied having anything to do with
starting any of the fires and said he lost his dog and most of his possessions in them.
He only suspected Morgan of having caused them after they were both arrested by police.
Under cross-examination by Christopher Morgan, defending, Mr Manley admitted he had had a drink problem and had a violent relationship with Morgan. He denied breaking her nose or cutting her face, but admitted punching her face once or twice, saying she also punched him.
Divisional Fire Officer Phillip Embery made a written statement to the court in which he said he had investigated a fire at Strasbourg Square.
There was a mug containing kerosene near the seat of the fire and he believed it had been started deliberately. It was the fourth fire involving the same occupants within seven months.
Pauline Shipp, lettings officer for St Edmundsbury Borough Council, estimated the total cost to the council of the four fires had been more than £60,400.
The case continues.
Mary Morgan, of Marlborough Court, Haverhill, denies five charges of arson.
The 20-year-old is charged with starting fires at Wellington Terrace, Haverhill, last March, endangering the lives of Martin Manley and his daughters.
She is also accused of starting a fire at Strasbourg Square in June, another fire at the same property a week later and a fire at another property in Strasbourg Square in July.
Duncan O’Donnell, prosecuting, told Bury St Edmunds Crown Court Morgan had deliberately started four strikingly similar fires in four different properties she was living in.
Her partner of three years Martin Manley, who suffers from arthritis and uses a wheelchair, was living with her at each property.
On one occasion, a couple living next door at Strasbourg Square had just put their children to bed when they looked outside to see flames shooting over the roof.
A second fire had broken out in one Strasbourg Square flat after the couple moved out. Both Morgan and Mr Manley, however, still had keys, the court was told.
Mr O’Donnell said Morgan had told police she did not start the fires, but then admitted to Sandra Fields, mother of Mr Manley’s third daughter, that she was responsible.
Later Morgan went to the police and confessed to starting the fires, saying Mr Manley had told her to do it so that he could get a bungalow. On one occasion she had said she had hoped to kill herself and Mr Manley, because he kept hitting her.
Mr Manley, 42, denied having anything to do with
starting any of the fires and said he lost his dog and most of his possessions in them.
He only suspected Morgan of having caused them after they were both arrested by police.
Under cross-examination by Christopher Morgan, defending, Mr Manley admitted he had had a drink problem and had a violent relationship with Morgan. He denied breaking her nose or cutting her face, but admitted punching her face once or twice, saying she also punched him.
Divisional Fire Officer Phillip Embery made a written statement to the court in which he said he had investigated a fire at Strasbourg Square.
There was a mug containing kerosene near the seat of the fire and he believed it had been started deliberately. It was the fourth fire involving the same occupants within seven months.
Pauline Shipp, lettings officer for St Edmundsbury Borough Council, estimated the total cost to the council of the four fires had been more than £60,400.
The case continues.
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)