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Leicester explosion: Shop blast accused 'did not help' Leicester explosion: Boy's 'miracle' rescue from rubble
(about 1 hour later)
Three men accused of killing five people in a "massive explosion" were nearby at the time and did not help, a court has heard. A murder trial has been shown dramatic footage of a 15-year-old boy buried under rubble following a massive explosion that killed three members of his family.
The blast in Leicester on 25 February destroyed a shop and the flat above it. Scotty Ragoobeer survived because he was dug out by police and members of the public just before the blast site in Leicester was engulfed by flames.
The trial previously heard Viktorija Ijevleva, a shop worker and girlfriend of one of the accused, was "left to die because she knew too much". However his mother and two older brothers perished, alongside his brother's girlfriend and a shop worker.
Aram Kurd, Hawkar Hassan and Arkan Ali deny murder, manslaughter and conspiring to commit fraud. Three men are accused of their murders.
David Herbert QC, prosecuting at Leicester Crown Court, said the men had planned the explosion and hoped to claim a £300,000 insurance payout for the Polish supermarket on Hinckley Road. Aram Kurd, Hawkar Hassan and Arkan Ali are also accused of alternative charges of manslaughter, together with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
He said CCTV showed they were all in the area at the time but drove away in "blissful ignorance". Sobs could be heard from the public gallery as the footage of Scotty buried under the explosion debris was shown in court.
"Witnesses in the area all heard that massive explosion," he said. In the footage filmed on a police bodycam, a male voice can be heard asking: "What's your name, chap?"
"We say it was impossible not to hear the blast if you were anywhere near." A voice can then be heard from the rubble replying: "Scotty."
Teenager's 'miracle' survival He was given reassurance he would be rescued and survived in what the prosecution described as a "miracle".
Families of those who died were in tears as they heard cries for help on some of the police bodycam footage shown to the court. He was buried so deep he could not be seen in the footage, but had been heard shouting for help.
One of those voices was from 15-year-old Scotty Ragoobeer, who survived the explosion in what the prosecution described as a "miracle". David Herbert QC, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court: "A voice shouting for help could be heard from within the rubble and a teenager... who had been in the flat with his family, was pulled out from the rubble.
"He said his brother was trapped," said Mr Herbert. "He said his brother was trapped.
"While they searched what was left of the building it became engulfed in flames." "While they searched what was left of the building it became engulfed in flames.
Jurors heard a young couple who were killed, Leah Reek and Shane Ragoobeer, both 18, had arrived at the flat only six minutes before the building exploded. "Before long the flames reached so high that they were above the roofs of the nearby buildings."
Shane's mum, Mary Ragoobar, 46, and his 17-year-old brother Sean Ragoobeer also died. Bodycam footage also showed passerby Thomas Lindop lying unconscious and bleeding among the rubble.
The bodycam footage also also showed passerby Thomas Lindop lying unconscious among the rubble. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and fractures to his skull, pelvis and spine. He was caught by the explosion when he was walking past the shop and suffered a traumatic brain injury and fractures to his skull, pelvis and spine.
Mr Herbert said the fire was started by litres of petrol being poured into the basement of the building by Mr Ali. The explosion happened at 19:01 GMT on 25 February at 253 Hinckley Road, destroying the Zabka supermarket on the ground floor and the flat above it.
He said it was either lit by him or shop owner Mr Kurd, while Mr Hassan acted as the getaway driver, with witnesses seeing the car drive away. The defendants are accused of causing the explosion in order to make about £300,000 from insurance that had been taken out for the shop.
Mr Herbert said the men did nothing to warn Ms Ijevleva, 22, about the blast and Mr Kurd had taken her mobile phone. The five people killed were Mary Ragoobar, her sons Shane and Sean Ragoobeer, Shane's girlfriend Leah Reek and shop worker Viktorija Ijevleva, who was Mr Ali's girlfriend.
The prosecution say Miss Ijevleva conspired with the three men but was left to die in the explosion and fire because she "knew too much".
The trial heard how Shane Ragoobeer and his girlfriend tragically entered the flat only six minutes before the explosion.
Police know this because they were filmed by a CCTV camera as they entered via the rear of the building at 18:55.
In the final footage of them before their deaths, Leah Reek could be seen using either a torch or mobile phone to find her way to the flat in the dark, while Shane Ragoobeer appeared to be carrying a case in his hand.
A minute later, at 18:56, the CCTV footage showed a man running from the building. The prosecution say this was Mr Ali, who had poured petrol in the basement of the building and was "in a hurry" to get away as he knew it was about to explode.
The prosecution said the petrol was lit by either Mr Ali or shop keeper Mr Kurd, while Mr Hassan acted as the getaway driver.
Mr Herbert said the men did nothing to warn Miss Ijevleva about the blast and Mr Kurd had taken her mobile phone.
"If they were responsible for the explosion and fire they had ample opportunity to warn her but they can't have done," he added."If they were responsible for the explosion and fire they had ample opportunity to warn her but they can't have done," he added.
Mr Kurd, 34, of Hillary Place in Leicester, Mr Hassan, 33, of no fixed address, and Mr Ali, 37, of Drake Close in Oldham, each deny five charges of murder, five charges of manslaughter and a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.Mr Kurd, 34, of Hillary Place in Leicester, Mr Hassan, 33, of no fixed address, and Mr Ali, 37, of Drake Close in Oldham, each deny five charges of murder, five charges of manslaughter and a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
The trial continues.The trial continues.
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