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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Rough sleeper 'set on fire and murdered' in Tunbridge Wells | Rough sleeper 'set on fire and murdered' in Tunbridge Wells |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man who had separated from his wife was doused in barbecue fluid and burnt to death in a town centre car park, a murder trial has heard. | A man who had separated from his wife was doused in barbecue fluid and burnt to death in a town centre car park, a murder trial has heard. |
| Giles Metcalfe, 43, died from burns and smoke inhalation in Tunbridge Wells in the early hours of 7 March. | Giles Metcalfe, 43, died from burns and smoke inhalation in Tunbridge Wells in the early hours of 7 March. |
| Dean Malcolm Lewis, 34, of no fixed address, and James Marshall-Gunn, 30, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge, deny murder. | Dean Malcolm Lewis, 34, of no fixed address, and James Marshall-Gunn, 30, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge, deny murder. |
| Philip Bennetts QC, prosecuting, told Maidstone Crown Court: "They together went in to kill him by fire." | Philip Bennetts QC, prosecuting, told Maidstone Crown Court: "They together went in to kill him by fire." |
| 'Settling down' | 'Settling down' |
| The court heard how Mr Metcalfe was homeless and on the night he died he planned to sleep in a car park above a shop on Torrington Road. | |
| Mr Metcalfe sent his wife a text just after 22:30 BST, saying: "Settling down for the night. It's all good xx." | Mr Metcalfe sent his wife a text just after 22:30 BST, saying: "Settling down for the night. It's all good xx." |
| Just after 02:30 BST, Kent Fire and Rescue service was notified of an alarm at the shop, The Range. A member of staff from the store attended and investigated with a colleague. | Just after 02:30 BST, Kent Fire and Rescue service was notified of an alarm at the shop, The Range. A member of staff from the store attended and investigated with a colleague. |
| Sleeping bag invitation | Sleeping bag invitation |
| They discovered Mr Metcalfe's badly burnt body on the first floor of the car park, next to the charred remains of his sleeping bag. | They discovered Mr Metcalfe's badly burnt body on the first floor of the car park, next to the charred remains of his sleeping bag. |
| An open bottle of barbecue lighting fluid and two lighters were nearby. | An open bottle of barbecue lighting fluid and two lighters were nearby. |
| The court was told that Mr Lewis and Mr Marshall-Gunn were with Mr Metcalfe earlier that evening at Sainsbury's buying whisky. | The court was told that Mr Lewis and Mr Marshall-Gunn were with Mr Metcalfe earlier that evening at Sainsbury's buying whisky. |
| Just before midnight, the court heard the three men were in the car park with two women. One of them was in a relationship with Mr Lewis. | Just before midnight, the court heard the three men were in the car park with two women. One of them was in a relationship with Mr Lewis. |
| Mr Metcalf is said to have suggested the woman join him in his sleeping bag. | Mr Metcalf is said to have suggested the woman join him in his sleeping bag. |
| Mr Marshall-Gun and Mr Lewis were seen leaving the car park on CCTV, but the prosecution said they re-entered the car park later. | Mr Marshall-Gun and Mr Lewis were seen leaving the car park on CCTV, but the prosecution said they re-entered the car park later. |
| Philip Bennetts QC, prosecuting, said: "They went together to kill him by fire. What other explanation can there be? In. Fire. Out." | Philip Bennetts QC, prosecuting, said: "They went together to kill him by fire. What other explanation can there be? In. Fire. Out." |
| Mr Lewis told police they had all been drinking together and Mr Metcalfe "started saying really weird stuff". | Mr Lewis told police they had all been drinking together and Mr Metcalfe "started saying really weird stuff". |
| "He then poured lighter fluid all over himself. It really freaked me out and I went back to my girlfriend," he said. | "He then poured lighter fluid all over himself. It really freaked me out and I went back to my girlfriend," he said. |
| Pathologist Olaf Biedrzycki found no evidence of any "defensive" injuries to Mr Metcalfe. | Pathologist Olaf Biedrzycki found no evidence of any "defensive" injuries to Mr Metcalfe. |
| But Mr Metcalfe's blood alcohol level was more than three times the drink-drive limit, the court heard. | But Mr Metcalfe's blood alcohol level was more than three times the drink-drive limit, the court heard. |
| Dr Biedrzycki concluded: "It seems reasonable to suggest the deceased may have been asleep and relatively oblivious to the presence of anyone around him". | Dr Biedrzycki concluded: "It seems reasonable to suggest the deceased may have been asleep and relatively oblivious to the presence of anyone around him". |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |