Woman died trying to save boyfriend from fire he started, court is told

James Larkin, 32, wrapped himself up in a duvet and set fire to it on September 22 last year following an argument with Anita Harris, 39, about playing loud music.

Miss Harris and her friend Julie Roberts, 43, managed to get out of the flat, in Frampton Close, Eastleaze, Swindon, but Miss Harris then went back in to try and save Larkin.

He escaped with burns but her charred remains were later found in his bedroom.

Larkin appeared before Bristol Crown Court yesterday to face charges of manslaughter and arson with intent to endanger life, both of which he denies.

Prosecuting, Ian Lawrie described Larkin’s alleged acts as reckless and a ‘typically self-indulgent act’ done for attention seeking.

He told the jury that Larkin, Miss Harris and her friend Miss Roberts, who now lives in Fairford, Gloucestershire, had spent the day together drinking heavily.

He described the three as ‘emotionally fractured individuals’ with a chequered work history, problems with accommodation, a difficult history with alcohol and sometimes with drugs. They would often go drinking together in Faringdon Park.

“Alcohol is a clear factor in this case,” he added.

Miss Harris had a blood alcohol level of 283 mg per 100 ml of blood while Larkin’s was estimated to have been about 310mg at the time of the incident and Miss Roberts’ was about 120mg. The legal drink drive limit is 80mg.

The three met in town and then headed back to Larkin’s first floor flat in Frampton Close, where Miss Harris was sometimes staying.

She and Larkin started arguing over her playing loud music and he went downstairs a few times to switch the electricity off at the fuse box.

Eventually Larkin lost his patience and put his fist through the glass of the front door, cutting his wrist in the process, Mr Lawrie said.

The ambulance and police were called but after they left the argument continued.

Mr Lawrie said: “Then Larkin appears to have had enough. He shouted at her ‘Get out of my f***ing house, get out of my house’.

“A taxi was called and Miss Harris went about gathering her clothes. Then his behaviour changed and he started crying and begged her not to leave.

“He sets light to some underwear or boxer shorts on a radiator cover in the living room.

“That fire didn’t take hold but the Crown invites you to accept that Larkin did light those items and that was part and parcel of some form of attention-seeking behaviour by him and was an overture to what took place later in the bedroom.

“He called Miss Harris but she didn’t respond and what Mr Larkin then did was go into the bedroom where she was still sorting out her clothes, sat on the bed and wrapped the duvet around him and set it alight.”

He said the bedroom caught fire but Larkin did not move and said he wanted to burn himself.

Miss Harris and Miss Roberts got out of the flat and Miss Roberts called the emergency service – a recording of that call was later played to the jury in court.

In the call, she said: “He’s being stupid, he’s been drinking and he’s just set the place on fire.”

She told them about the items on the radiator and said: “He’s lit the clothes and the whole thing’s gone up.

“He’s sat there with the fire in front of him and set himself alight.”

Despite Miss Roberts’s efforts not to let Miss Harris go back into the building she did.

Mr Lawrie said: “She went back into the burning flat, we can only guess probably to help Mr Larkin. Clearly she got into difficulties because she could be heard calling for help.

“She shouted out for Miss Roberts and a neighbour hears her saying ‘let me out of here, get me out of here’.”

When the police arrived they tried to get into the building and noticed Mr Larking lying on the floor just inside the front door but they could not reach Miss Harris because of the smoke and flames.

Firemen using breathing apparatus then went in.

Mr Lawrie said: “Eventually, sadly, they found the charred remains of Miss Harris on the floor of the bedroom between the end of the bed and the window.”

He said when Larkin was interviewed by police he denied the allegation of arson and changed his account of what took place a number of times.

The case continues.