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scotkaz
Joined: 28 Aug 2008
Posts: 527
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 Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:44 pm Post subject: Cleared fire death accused dad tells of relentless nightmare |
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Mar 24 2009
A FATHER cleared of murdering his baby daughter in a house fire spoke today of his "relentless nightmare".
William Middleton said he would never forgive himself for not being able to save nine-month-old Annalise from the blaze in Shetland.
He also denied he was "a hero" and said the not proven verdict returned by a jury had marred his late daughter's memory.
Mr Middleton, 33, had denied murdering his daughter by setting fires at his home. He was cleared last week after a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen.
The mussel farmer said today: "I would like to thank everyone who has written or forwarded messages of support while I was remanded - an overwhelming display of public opinion which gave me the much-needed strength to endure what can only be described as a relentless nightmare."
He added: "It was suggested in court that I tried to present myself as a hero, something that could not be further from the truth.
"I have never claimed to be one, nor do I feel like one.
"The reality is, as I have said all along, that I think of myself as a failure and will never forgive myself for not being able to reach her (Annalise)."
During the two-week trial, the court heard that Mr Middleton and his wife, Kareen, had argued at their Brae home on the night of September 20 last year.
Mrs Middleton left, and later returned to the sight of smoke coming from the house.
Annalise was rescued by a fireman, but pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Middleton told the court he was able to ensure two other children in the house could get out, but the thick smoke prevented him reaching Annalise.
He was found by fire crews, lying on top of the bed in a downstairs bedroom.
"I cannot explain how I ended up where I did, but I do know I was not leaving the house without my baby," he added.
Mr Middleton expressed his "sincere thanks" to the emergency services and to his family for their support.
During the trial, Mrs Middleton testified against her husband.
"She is quite obviously hurt and grieving and in need of someone to blame, but sadly she has not been afforded the knowledge of all the facts as I have," he said.
"I am confident that, if she were, her trauma would be easier to come to terms with."
He went on: "Not proven, while an acquittal, will never be adequate for me as a verdict.
"Annalise's memory should never have been marred by the suggestion that I could have any part in her tragic death."
Last edited by scotkaz on Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:26 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Big Wullie
Joined: 25 Apr 2007
Posts: 1149
Location: Glasgow
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| Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:09 am Post subject: |
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I watched this case unfolding in the press but then it seemed to go quiet.
Does anyone know how this fire was started.
Does anyone know what evidence was presented at the trial in support of a conviction.
It sounds a bit like the Kenny Richey trial in America. |
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scotkaz
Joined: 28 Aug 2008
Posts: 527
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| Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:01 am Post subject: |
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Wullie
From what I can make out in the news articles on the trial and fire, it is pretty similar to the Richey case.
Seems they were all drinking in the house, a row broke out between Mr Middleton and his wife and she walked out.
Middleton, 32, is accused of murdering nine month old baby Annalise and attempting to murder two other children, aged six and three, by setting fire to clothes and curtains.
Kareen Middleton, 24, said she had been drinking alcohol with her husband and three teenage girls on the night of the blaze at the family home in Brae, Shetland.
| Quote: | | Fire expert Andrew Wade said a naked flame was the "most feasible" cause of the fire. |
And the 54 year old told the jury he believed burnt papers found at the bottom of curtains were the cause of the bedroom blaze.
| Quote: | Jack Davidson, defending, put it to Mr Mortimore that
his conclusions were "not really scientifically based", but a matter of opinion.
Mr Mortimore the investigator said that the investigation required a "Sherlock Holmes approach", involving elimination. |
"Mr Middleton was reportedly found on the bed in the bedroom. Neither he nor his clothes exhibited heat damage."
Mr Mortimore said that a dead cat was found in one of the upstairs bedrooms during the investigation.
He told the court the local authority owned house had suffered extensive fire damage, particularly on the ground floor.
| Quote: |
He said: "When two fires are started at the same time, the only explanation is that the fires were started deliberately. |
| Quote: | | The fire in the bedroom, where Middleton and his partner slept, most likely started at the base of the curtains, possibly ignited using a piece of paper. |
| Quote: | In the hallway, his investigation focused on two electrical items — a storage heater and an internet hub.
Mr Mortimore said it was “extremely unlikely” the fire in the hall had been started by faulty equipment.
He further ruled out the possibility that the fire had been started by flammable liquids left lying around, or discarded cigarettes. |
This case is more like the Richey case than I thought at first. If people are drinking in a house and smoking then the chances of the fire being started accidentally are high. There were teenagers in the house too. Obviously there were newspapers lying around the floor too. All it would take would be for one of them to drop their cigarette while drinking and a fire would start slowly then take grip. I wonder if they checked the electical equipment? The fire in the Richey case was originally blamed on an electric fan. Seems to me they did not investigate this case properly at all.
When a fire takes place in a small enclosed area the heat is tremendous, and the place can go up in a matter of minutes. Its called Flashover. in tests I have seen a small flat being destroyed in 90 seconds.
* Fire tends to burn upwards and outwards (look for V-patterns along walls).
* The presence of combustible materials will increase the intensity and extent of the fire; the fire will rise faster as it gets hotter (look for different temperature conditions).
* The fire needs fuel and oxygen to continue.
* A fire's spread will be influenced by factors such as air currents, walls and stairways. Falling burning debris and the effect of fire-fighters will also have an influence.
Provided the investigation has been patiently and scientifically carried out, when combined with the evidence of eyewitnesses or fire officers, it may be possible at this stage to draw a conclusion about the fire. Typical causes of accidental fires are cooking accidents, overheated or short circuited electrical connections, spontaneous combustion of oils, welding sparks, burst gas lines, sparks from fireplaces, lightning, cigarette butts, left-on appliances, reacting chemicals. The list of all the possible causes is very long.
| Quote: |
"When there's a fatal fire and someone survives, the survivor will be charged with arson and murder."
~ Gerald Hurst, Ph.D. |
Provided the investigation has been patiently and scientifically carried out, when combined with the evidence of eyewitnesses or fire officers, it may be possible at this stage to draw a conclusion about the fire. Typical causes of accidental fires are cooking accidents, overheated or short circuited electrical connections, spontaneous combustion of oils, welding sparks, burst gas lines, sparks from fireplaces, lightning, cigarette butts, left-on appliances, reacting chemicals. The list of all the possible causes is very long.
http://truthinjustice.org/arson.htm
http://www.tcforensic.com.au/docs/article3.html
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