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| St Leonards Hospice arson accused dies | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man charged with starting a fire at a hospice which killed two people has died in prison. | A man charged with starting a fire at a hospice which killed two people has died in prison. |
| Rodney Smith, 67, of Quarry Hill, St Leonards, Sussex, was accused of arson with intent to endanger life after the blaze at St Michael's Hospice in July. | Rodney Smith, 67, of Quarry Hill, St Leonards, Sussex, was accused of arson with intent to endanger life after the blaze at St Michael's Hospice in July. |
| He was a patient at the hospice at the time of the fire and was terminally ill, police said. | He was a patient at the hospice at the time of the fire and was terminally ill, police said. |
| Mr Smith was later remanded to Lewes Prison, where he was being cared for in the hospital wing. | Mr Smith was later remanded to Lewes Prison, where he was being cared for in the hospital wing. |
| A Sussex Police spokeswoman said Mr Smith, who died last Monday and was due to appear before Lewes Crown Court on Friday, was the only suspect in the arson investigation. | A Sussex Police spokeswoman said Mr Smith, who died last Monday and was due to appear before Lewes Crown Court on Friday, was the only suspect in the arson investigation. |
| Police have said Mr Smith's death is not being treated as suspicious. | Police have said Mr Smith's death is not being treated as suspicious. |
| Two patients, Jill Moon, 62 and David Denness, 81, suffered smoke inhalation in the fire and died later in hospital. | Two patients, Jill Moon, 62 and David Denness, 81, suffered smoke inhalation in the fire and died later in hospital. |
| Since the fire, most of the hospice building has remained closed and inpatient services are still being provided at a care home in Hastings where the hospice has rented space. | |
| The hospice is putting together plans to raise funds to redevelop the building at the same time as repairs are carried out. |