BREAKING NEWS - Man guilty of Swaffham BP garage arson but cleared of putting lives at risk
A MAN has today, Thursday, been convicted of starting fires at two petrol stations, including one at Swaffham, but cleared of putting lives at risk.
Hussian Murad, 33, set fire to his Hyundai car at a Swaffham petrol station on Boxing Day last year, having earlier also poured petrol on a forecourt of a Lincolnshire petrol station and started a fire there.
A jury at Norwich Crown Court today found him guilty of arson, but acquited him of arson being reckless as whether lives were endangered. He will be sentenced tomorrow after judge Peter Jacobs adjourned the case for a psychiatric report to be prepared.
Murad, of Holkham Avenue, Leicester, committed the offences at two petrol pumps at the BP garage on the A47 at Swaffham in relation to both incidents and the Jet petrol station on the A1 at Marston, Lincolnshire.
Simon Gladwell, defending, told the court: “This man was an ill man at the time - he suffers from mental illness.” Judge Peter Jacobs adjourned sentencing for a psychiatrist report.
Andrew Oliver, prosecuting, had earlier told the jury: “Murad started a fire at 11.15pm in very dangerous circumstances after driving in the BP garage on the A47, went up to pump seven and another car pulled up behind.
“He put petrol in his tank and went to the passenger door, removed the petrol pump and sprayed it for a few seconds into the passenger area, bending down before an explosion and the car going up in flames.
“The car behind reversed and Trudy Smith, the attendant, cut off fuel to all the pumps, also ringing the emergency services. Murad left on foot and was seen walking down the A47 towards Dereham.
“Police stopped him 400-500 metres away and he smelled very strongly of fuel and fire – his hair was singed and he had a red lighter in his jacket pocket.
“When interviewed, he said he had gone to Heathrow and Dover to leave the country to return to his native Iraq. He was clearly unwell. He said: ‘I didn’t want to take my car home and I had an argument with my girlfriend on Christmas Day.’”
Mr Oliver added: “He also said : ‘I don’t know why I caused the fires other than to get arrested so I could go back.’”
Referring to the earlier incident, Mr Oliver said: “It occurred at 6.30am at Marston, between Newark and Grantham, on the A1 when he sprayed two and half litres of petrol onto the forecourt and caused two feet high flames.
“Murad ran away but returned and drove off in his car.”
The court also heard Murad had admitted starting both fires but the case related to his state of mind at the time.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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