On Air Good Friday Breakfast Chris Williams | 6:00am - 10:00am

Survivors of fire give evidence at murder trial

The jury in the trial of a Douglas man charged with murder and arson has heard dramatic evidence from survivors of the fire which killed builder Terence Losh.

Stephen Paul Leece, 35, is accused of starting the fatal blaze at Mr Losh's home, at 19 Demesne Road, Douglas in March last year.

He is also alleged to have started three other minor fires earlier that weekend.

Keith Wardle, who lived in the same block of flats as Mr Losh, described how he discovered the blaze in the early hours of March 22.

He said he tried to extinguish the fire only for it to burst back into life 'like something out of an action film'.

The fire then spread very quickly, forcing residents to flee the building.

Stephen Donelly, who lived on the second floor of the building, recounted how he had to lower his five-year-old nephew to people who were standing on a flat roof on the first floor, then wait to be rescued by firefighters.

The trial continues.

More from Isle of Man News