This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/8022545.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Torture victim 'was found alight' | Torture victim 'was found alight' |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The bodies of two French students were singed and one was still alight when firefighters entered a south-east London flat, a court 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. |
| 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. | 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 Nigel Farmer, 34, deny the murders. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 | 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 |
| The court also heard how one of the accused was "blase" when a neighbour spotted him leaving the bedsit shortly after an explosion there. | The court also heard how one of the accused was "blase" when a neighbour spotted him leaving the bedsit shortly after an explosion there. |
| Nicholas Connor, the first fireman in, described how he felt his way along a wall through the "thick black smoke". | Nicholas Connor, the first fireman in, described how he felt his way along a wall through the "thick black smoke". |
| "I progressed slowly and with my foot I felt against what I found out was the leg of the deceased." | "I progressed slowly and with my foot I felt against what I found out was the leg of the deceased." |
| He found the second body near the bay window, which had a covering around its head that was "still smouldering". | 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. | 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 | 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." | "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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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' |
| 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. |
| 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 to starting the fire but said he was forced to do so by Mr Sonnex, from Peckham, 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 that both of 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 before starting a fire at night. | 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. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |