Leece guilty of Demesne Road murder

Thu, 19 Aug 2010

Jurby Prison

Simon Paul Leece has been convicted of murder.

The jury found that the thirty-five year old started the fire at Demesne Road intending to kill.

Sixty-one year old Terry Losh died in the fire in March last year.

Leece was also convicted of arson with intent to endanger life at Peveril Street, and arson being wreckless as to whether life was endangered at Clark Street.

He was cleared of trying to kill at the Clark Street fire and starting a blaze in a yard on Bucks Road.

Deemster Birkett told Leece he will serve a life sentence, but that a psychiatric report will be carried out before sentence is passed.

It's expected sentencing will take place the week beginning October 11th.

Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Willson led the investigation, and was pleased with today's outcome [play clip]