Matt Morgan’s client was charged with Arson With Intent to Endanger life relating to burning down a kebab shop in Westcliff-on-Sea causing £280,000 worth of damage.
The defendant had lied in his police interview saying he had discovered the fire which had been caused by his phone charger exploding. He later averred that the true cause of the fire was as a result of a leaking camping gas burner which he used to burn opium.
The defence mounted an Abuse argument relating to the police failure to seize and retain parts of the burner found in the wreckage for examination by the defence expert.
Following a joint expert report, the Crown’s expert conceded that he could not rule out the possibility that the gas burner was a possible cause of the explosion and subsequent fire. The defence