HORR0R HOUSE FIRE CASE ERUPTS: SECOND MAN HIT WITH MU-RDER CHARGE AND EIGHT COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED MUR-DER AFTER WOMAN DI-ES — NEW ARREST SENDS SH0CKWAVES THROUGH THE COMMUNITY
A SECOND man has been charged with murder following a house fire in West London which killed a woman.
Emergency services descended on Berkley Avenue in Hounslow in the early hours of August 19 following reports of a fire.
The scene outside a fire damaged property following the fire on Berkeley Avenue in HounslowCredit: PA
Police at the scene of a fire in which a 48-year-old woman died and a further eight people were taken to hospitalCredit: PA
A 48-year-old woman later died in hospital while another woman, aged 40, remains in a life-threatening condition.
The woman who died has been named as Anna Kowalsaka and her family are being supported by specialist officers.
The force added that the other six men and one woman who were taken to hospital have since been discharged with minor injuries.
Slawomir Alama, 41, has now been charged with murder alongside eight counts of attempted murder, arson with intent to endanger life, possession of a class B drug and possession of a knife in a public place.
Two men have been charged after the house fireCredit: PA
The other six men and one woman who were taken to hospital have since been discharged with minor injuriesCredit: PA
He remains in custody after he was arrested in Leeds earlier today and is due to appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.
This comes after Pawel Kupla, 34, was charged with one count of murder, eight counts of attempted murder and one count of arson with intent to endanger life.
The Met Police said their investigation “remains ongoing” after they were called to Berkeley Avenue at around 1.14am last Wednesday.
It was also reported at the time how a hero neighbour in his pyjamas battled the raging flames.
Armed with a jet washer, shopkeeper Satwant Singh, 48, rushed outside to fight the blaze, The Sun revealed.
His daughter had spotted the fire from her bedroom window and woken him up in the middle of the night.
He told us: “I told my wife to get all the children outside and then opened up the alleyway side door and brought the jet wash around the front of the house to spray the fire.
“I could see that the door was on fire but there was smoke everywhere else.”
Satwant said he put out “most of the fire”, adding: “I didn’t think about myself, I was just thinking that I needed to help.
“We are Sikhs. My culture says we should help people. It doesn’t matter who you are.”
His wife, Barkash, praised his bravery and said she begged him to move from the flames, but that he continued spraying the house.
She said: “He is very brave. I think the water from the jet wash reduced the smoke coming from the house and helped people get out.”
Another local Shaf Akmal, 40, said he was one of the first people outside.
He said: “I saw two men who stood on the back of a car parked in the driveway of the house and broke the downstairs window to pull two people out.”
Shaf’s ring doorbell footage showed the house suddenly being engulfed in flames.
Officers attended the scene alongside the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service.
Lisa Ramsarran, chief crown prosecutor in London North said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Pawel Kupla for murder, attempted murder and arson following a fatal fire in Hounslow, west London which resulted in the murder of a 48-year-old woman and the injury of eight others at approximately 1am on Wednesday 19 August.
“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to pursue criminal proceedings.
“We have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to bring this case to court, and we will continue working with them as their investigation progresses.”
The Met Police have urged anyone with information or footage that may assist their investigation to get in touch.
SOURCE: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40172168/man-charged-house-fire-murder/
