HAYLING LANDLORD FAILS TO SHOW AT INQUEST
- Thu 15th Dec 2005
Firefighters say they heard no alarms during flat inferno that killed two tenants.
A landlord has been ordered to appear in court to answer questions about fire safety after two tenants died in a fire.
Christopher Mincham failed to show up at the inquest into the deaths of Nigel Claridge, 55, and Tony Handley, 37, who died when a fire ripped through Mr Handley's top-floor flat at Norfolk Crescent, Hayling Island, last year.
Several witnesses at the inquest in Portsmouth yesterday questioned whether the fire alarms in the four-storey property has been working as they could not hear them.
Among them was leading firefighter David Sandways, from Hayling Island Fire Station, who said "I did not hear a fire alarm sounding in the building. It is something I always listen out for".
Mr Handley's health visitor, Gavin Gorman, told the coroner that he had noticed the glass to trigger a fire alarm outside the flat had been smashed and had not been replaced several weeks before the fire.
The inquest heard that Mr Mincham was the landlord of the flat and that he had been called to give evidence, but failed to appear.
Coroner David Horsley said: "He may have some pertinent questions to answer in respect of this hearing".
The inquest was told that Mr Claridge, who had lived in the ground floor flat, died after going up to Mr Handley's top floor flat. Fire forensic officers said that the 'seat' of the fire was the second floor landing.
By the time firefighters had arrived both men had died of smoke inhalation. Mr Claridge was found on the stairs to the top-floor flat and Mr Handley was found inside. Both men had suffered severe burns.
The inquest heard that Mr Handley suffered from paranoid schitzophrenia, severe alcoholism, and had once tried to take his own life. Mr Gorman said his mobility was restricted and he took 10 minutes to answer the door.
The inquest was adjourned until January 3.
Fiance sent lover a note before he was killed
The fiance of Mr Claridge was sent a love note shortly before he died.
The inquest was told that the pair, who lived in separate flats at the property, had a row on the day of the fire. The couple had been arguing over Mr Claridge's drinking habits.
Lesley Exell, 54, who lived on the second floor, said she ignored her fiance because he had gone on a drinking binge. However, she wanted to see him after he left a love note. It said:
"Come down and see me. I still love you. Nigel xxxx"
Ms Exell told the inquest she smoked two cigarettes on the second floor landing of the terraced flats as she waited for Mr Claridge to call her down to his ground floor flat. She said she stubbed them out in an ashtray, which was left on a cupboard on the landing, and she returned to her flat when he did not appear. Ms Exell said she did not stub the cigarettes out on the floor. Around half an hour later she noticed the smell of smoke while she was watching television. She said: "I could hear a crackling sound and there were flames under the door. I could not believe what I was seeing. It sounded like a bonfire sort od sound". Ms Exell tried to call her fiance on his mobile when the fire broke out. She said: "All I could hear was this 'shushing' and then the line went dead". Ms Exell escaped from the building with other residents. "He was a lovely guy when he was sober but he changed when he drank" she added.
By forum user, HIbot
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