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Murder accused 'covered in blood' Accused 'forced to torch bedsit'
(about 3 hours later)
A man accused of murdering two French students in south London arrived home "covered in blood" on the morning of the killings, the Old Bailey has heard. A man accused of murdering two French students in south London has admitted setting their bedsit alight but said it was after his children were threatened.
Nigel Farmer told the Old Bailey the brother of co-defendant Dano Sonnex threatened to harm his children if he did not carry out the arson attack.
Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez, both 23, were stabbed hundreds of times in their New Cross bedsit in June 2008.Laurent Bonomo and Gabriel Ferez, both 23, were stabbed hundreds of times in their New Cross bedsit in June 2008.
Nigel Farmer said his co-accused Dano Sonnex arrived back at his home, where Mr Farmer was staying, "crazy looking" with red staining on his clothes. Mr Farmer and Mr Sonnex deny murder, false imprisonment and arson.
Both men deny murder, false imprisonment and arson. Past murders
Mr Sonnex, from Peckham, south London, admits one count of burglary, which his co-defendant denies.Mr Sonnex, from Peckham, south London, admits one count of burglary, which his co-defendant denies.
Giving evidence Mr Farmer, of no fixed abode, said when he questioned Mr Sonnex about the red stains he shrugged it off and laughed. Father-of-two Mr Farmer, 34, told jurors that Dano Sonnex's brother Bernie Sonnex had in the past admitted killing three other people and getting away with it.
I threw the jerry can back into the flat and I lit a match and I was engulfed in a fireball Nigel Farmer
"He said to me, 'Have you seen how much blood Dano had on him this morning?'," said Mr Farmer.
"He said, 'If you don't do what you're told, tomorrow morning that could be your kids' blood all over him."
"He was obviously scaring me quite a lot. Dano came in and he said he could cut my kids' legs off below the knees."
The conversation was alleged to have taken place in the hours following the murders.
Mr Farmer described how he had gone into the bedsit and been caught up in a fireball after sprinkling petrol around and setting fire to it with a match.
He said he was only in there for 30 or 40 seconds and had not seen the bodies of the students as the lights were off.
"I practically ran through it, sprinkling petrol," Farmer said. "I threw the jerry can back into the flat and I lit a match and I was engulfed in a fireball."
Mr Farmer said Mr Sonnex later asked him to set fire to the flat in New Cross and throw a knife into the Thames.Mr Farmer said Mr Sonnex later asked him to set fire to the flat in New Cross and throw a knife into the Thames.
He also tried to burgle the home of EastEnders actress Maureen Bass, who plays Mo Harris in the BBC soap, Mr Farmer said. The trial was adjourned until Thursday.
A friend who disturbed the intruder described how he had climbed on top of the conservatory and when confronted said he wanted "Mo's signature" before fleeing.
The court heard she called police at 0500 BST, half an hour before the killing of Mr Bonomo and Mr Ferez.
The trial continues.