Leyton
The latest news from the East London and West Essex Guardian
| TOP STORIES |  | | | | | | | FEATURES | | | | | | MAYOR NEWS | | | | BIZARRE LONDON | | | TRAVEL | | | | COMPETITIONS | | |
|
|
|
LEYTON: Arson victim 'unlawfully killed'
A CORONER has recorded a verdict of unlawful killing in an inquest into the death of a dad-of-two who fell from a second floor window after his property was deliberately set alight.
Somalian-born Mohammed Mohamoud, who was 36, of Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, died from injuries sustained following the blaze in the early hours of September 6, 2006.
At Walthamstow Coroners Court, coroner Dr Elizabeth Stearns recorded a verdict of unlawful killing after hearing how Mr Mohamoud's flat above an Internet cafe was set alight.
But police have been unable to trace any culprits for the fire or been able to contact any of Mr Mohamoud's family, despite an extensive enquiry and a £20,000 rewards for information.
Police enquiries included appeals on Somalian TV and radio and in various languages including Urdu, Arabic and Swahili, spoken by other people living in the same block of flats as Mr Mohamoud.
The coroner heard that the restaurant porter, who worked in Gloucester Road, central London, died from head and chest injuries after falling 30ft from a second floor window.
He was pronounced dead at Whipps Cross Hospital after being discovered by firefighters at the scene at around 2.45am on September 6, 2006. The inquest had been adjourned two days later.
Det Insp Damon Hall, leading the enquiry into the death, said CCTV cameras spotted a man walking into the entrance to the flats, in Salcombe Road, off Lea Bridge Road, shortly before the blaze started.
He said: "Mr Mohamoud had finished work as a kitchen porter in Gloucester Road at about 1am and taken the nightbus home, as was his usual routine. He was a man who kept himself to himself.
"At 2.35am CCTV cameras showed a car turn off Lea Bridge Road into Salcombe Road and about 15 seconds later a figure walked from the direction of the car and into the block of flats."
Det Insp Hall said it was thought the arsonist had a key to the property.
He said three of four gas hobs were turned on in a shared kitchen and flammable liquid sprayed in the stairwell and set alight. Just minutes later Mr Mohamoud leapt to his death.
He added: "At 2.45am CCTV caught Mr Mohamoud hanging from a second floor window at the front of the property by his hands, before allowing himself to drop towards the ground.
"His feet clipped a hoarding above the shop below and he spun round and landed on his head on the pavement.
"Without doubt, the fire was deliberately set alight, with the aim of causing a gas explosion."
Det Insp Hall said the only reason there was not a major explosion was because the hobs were not turned on far enough to release sufficient gas.
Several people also inside the flats escaped unharmed.
DI Hall said he had spoken to the landlord who owned the flats but said he did not know why anyone would start the fire.
Dr Stearns expressed her sympathy to Mr Mohamoud's family. She heard police had been unable to contact any of his family, even though his cousin identified his body at the time of his death.
She added: "I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that this was arson where there was a deliberate intent to destroy property and the arsonist, by leaving gas taps on, intended an explosion and was reckless as to whether anyone was seriously endangered."
4:39pm Wednesday 23rd April 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: mr khalid, walthamstow on 5:37pm Thu 24 Apr 08
meybe he jump becose hose on fares? must take the chanse
meybe he jump becose hose on fares? must take the chanse
Posted by: Observer on 1:34am Sat 26 Apr 08
mr khalid he also hev de arse on fare.
mr khalid he also hev de arse on fare.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
