Murder co-accused: I thought the plan was to torch car, not home

ONE of two men accused of murdering Akashdeep Singh in an arson attack caught on CCTV claims he had no prior knowledge “that this other guy was going to torch the house”, and had no intention of causing serious harm to anyone.

- MATTHEW COOPER

Dale Francis, 37, and Daniel Tatters, 26, both deny the murder of Mr Singh, who died in hospital hours after suffering burns and inhaling smoke at his home.

Tatters, of no fixed address, and Francis, of Clare Street, Basford, Stoke-on-Trent, also deny attempted murder and a charge of arson with intent to endanger life in relation to the fire in Plascom Road, East Park, Wolverhampton, on June 25 last year.

Prosecutors allege the two defendants travelled from the Stoke-on-Trent area to Wolverhampton in the early hours and used an inflammable liquid to set Mr Singh’s home on fire, leaving him and his mother trapped upstairs.

During the Crown's opening address at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday, KC Mark Heywood told jurors that Francis was arrested on September 5 last year. He then made no comment throughout the interview process, but after being charged put forward a prepared statement.