Crescent Fire Victims Update

- Wed 1st Sep 2004

Havant police on August 26, confirmed the identity of one of the two men who tragically lost their lives in the Hayling Island fire at Darra Court on Norfolk Crescent on Sunday August 22.
Tony Handley, 37, unemployed and a resident of the Hayling flats at the Crescent died of smoke inhalation caused by the fire around 8pm on Sunday evening. Police are still awaiting DNA tests to officially confirm the identification of the other man killed in the fire. This is likely to take three or four days for results to return.

Police are calling for new witnesses to the fire to come forward. They especially need to talk to a small group of children seen inside the building about the time the fire occurred on Sunday night. This group of three or four children may hold important information that will help detectives with their enquiries about the cause of the fire. They, or their parents, may have been innocent observers of the fire and the children’s information will greatly assist the ongoing investigation.

If anyone, such as parents in the area who knew their children were playing around Norfolk Crescent on Sunday evening, has information which may lead to the identification of these children they need to contact the major crime incident room at Fratton police station quoting the reference Operation Manual.

Alternatively, police wish to ask parents to talk to their children to ascertain if they were in or around the scene of the fire at the Crescent and then contact police on their behalf.

Detective Inspector Philip Mctavish said: “Police can ensure complete anonymity of any children who come forward with their parents to help with our enquiries.”

Both suspects arrested in connection with the fire, a 29 year old and 11 year old, have been released on bail pending further police enquiries until October the 5 and 12 respectively. A full forensic investigation is still ongoing to find the true cause of the fire and to also enable re-housed residents to return to their homes as soon as possible following fire safety checks by Hampshire Fire and Rescue service.

Anyone else with any other information regarding the fire who has not yet contacted detectives at the major crime office in Fratton police station is urged to do so as soon as possible on 0845 045 45 45 or alternatively ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

By forum user, Bruce_Bennett