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Accused 'blase' about being seen Torture victim 'was found alight'
(about 2 hours later)
A man accused of murdering two French students before starting a fire was "blase" when a neighbour spotted him fleeing, the Old Bailey has heard. The bodies of two French students were singed and one was still alight when firefighters entered a south-east London flat, a court heard.
Curtis Cronin, who lives above the bedsit in Sterling Gardens, New Cross, south-east London, said he saw Nigel Farmer, 33, from 18ft (5.5m) away. Firemen told the Old Bailey how they found the bodies in Sterling Gardens, New Cross, and of the "overpowering" smell of petrol inside the bedsit.
Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo, both 23, were stabbed and tortured for hours last June after a burglary went wrong.Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo, both 23, were stabbed and tortured for hours last June after a burglary went wrong.
Dano Sonnex, 23, from south London and Mr Farmer, 34, deny the murders.Dano Sonnex, 23, from south London and Mr Farmer, 34, deny the murders.
The biochemistry masters students at Imperial College were bound, tortured and stabbed hundreds of times in an "orgy of bloodletting" on 29 June, prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC said. The victims, biochemistry masters students at London's Imperial College, were bound, tortured and stabbed hundreds of times in an "orgy of bloodletting" on 29 June, said Crispin Aylett QC, prosecuting.
Their bodies were found after neighbour Mr Cronin was alerted by an explosion and a fire at the bedsit. I noticed that his hands were tied in front of him and he had a sheet over his head, wrapped around his head, which was alight, and I put it out Dennis Martin, fireman
He did not seem that bothered. He seemed rather blase Curtis Cronin, witness The court also heard how one of the accused was "blase" when a neighbour spotted him leaving the bedsit shortly after an explosion there.
Giving evidence from behind a screen Mr Cronin said he was at home with his wife when he heard a "large explosion" and breaking glass. Nicholas Connor, the first fireman in, described how he felt his way along a wall through the "thick black smoke".
"We saw a flame and a flash that appeared. "I progressed slowly and with my foot I felt against what I found out was the leg of the deceased."
"I saw a man running away from the scene of the explosion, running towards the street. I became aware, having seen flames coming through the windows, that the flat downstairs was on fire. He found the second body near the bay window, which had a covering around its head that was "still smouldering".
Fireman Dennis Martin said: "I saw a person lying on the floor, close to the bay window. That person was naked.
Both men deny murder, arson, false imprisonment and perverting justice
"I noticed that his hands were tied in front of him and he had a sheet over his head, wrapped around his head, which was alight, and I put it out."
A third fireman, Thomas Stapleton, told the jury about the "overpowering" smell of petrol in the flat.
Firefighters called police after they saw numerous stab wounds on Mr Ferez's chest.
Fire investigator David Cook said although the fire was relatively minor, the burning of the bodies and the positions they were left in were "very unusual".
The jury also heard from Curtis Cronin, who lives above the bedsit. He said he allegedly saw Mr Farmer from 18ft (5.5m) away.
Giving evidence from behind a screen, Mr Cronin said he was at home with his wife when he heard a large explosion and breaking glass.
"As the man was running away from the scene, I called him suggesting 'I've got you', pretty much 'I have seen you'."As the man was running away from the scene, I called him suggesting 'I've got you', pretty much 'I have seen you'.
"He responded quite casually 'yeah, yeah'. He did not seem that bothered. He seemed rather blase," Mr Cronin said. "He responded quite casually, 'yeah, yeah'. He did not seem that bothered. He seemed rather blase," Mr Cronin said.
'Unimaginable horror''Unimaginable horror'
As his wife called the emergency services Mr Cronin went downstairs where he found flames reaching "up to ceiling level" and "too much smoke".
Police created an e-fit based on Mr Cronin's description. Days after the sketch was published Mr Farmer handed himself in to police.Police created an e-fit based on Mr Cronin's description. Days after the sketch was published Mr Farmer handed himself in to police.
Both men deny murder, arson, false imprisonment and perverting justice He admits to starting the fire but said he was forced to do so by Mr Sonnex, from Peckham, who has admitted burglary at the flat.
He admits starting the fire but said he was forced to do so by Mr Sonnex, who has admitted burglary at the flat.
Both also deny false imprisonment and arson, being reckless as to whether life would be endangered. Mr Farmer also denies burglary.Both also deny false imprisonment and arson, being reckless as to whether life would be endangered. Mr Farmer also denies burglary.
On Monday the jury heard both the accused entered the bedsit in the early hours and robbed the students. On Monday the jury heard that both of the accused entered the bedsit in the early hours and robbed the students.
But when they failed to withdraw money using a cash card the two returned and subjected the Frenchmen to "inhuman" torture and left the bodies in the flat the whole day. But when they failed to withdraw money using a cash card the two returned and subjected the Frenchmen to "inhuman" torture and left the bodies in the flat the whole day before starting a fire at night.
Later that night they set fire to the bedsit to destroy evidence, leaving a scene of "almost unimaginable horror", the court heard.
The trial continues.The trial continues.