Leece denies any criminal activity

Tue, 10 Aug 2010

Douglas Courthouse

The man accused of starting the fatal fire on Demesne Road has denied doing anything wrong on the night of the blaze.

The transcripts from police interviews with Simon Paul Leece have been read in the trial today.

In one of the interviews, Leece is asked if he was involved in any criminality on the weekend of the fires. He says he wasn't.

The 35 year old from Fairfield Terrace admits he was walking in the area at the time of the fires on Peveril Street, Clark Street and Demesne Road, but that he was just clearing his head after a few glasses of wine.

He described the period as like a normal weekend night.

The transcripts are the final part of the prosecutions evidence.

Leece denies one murder charge and seven counts of arson.

The trial continues.