Woman was killed after blowing up the block of flats where she lived after smashing her way into a noisy neighbour’s home and setting fire to it, coroner rule
- Reena James, 43, poured petrol in her neighbour’s flat before setting it on fire
- Residents jumped from the windows of the three-storey block of flats in Bedford
A woman was killed after breaking in to her noisy neighbour’s flat to set it on fire, before blowing up the block of flats where she lived, an inquest has heard.
Reena James, 43, used a hammer to smash her way into the home next door in Bedford on 4 July last year, the hearing was told.
Ms James then poured petrol over the surfaces before taking a naked flame towards the highly flammable area causing an explosion that could be heard half a mile away.
Residents were forced to jump out of windows as the fire began to consume the three-storey block in Redwood Grove, which later collapsed as a result.
Ms James did not get on with her upstairs neighbour due to noise, with the relationship breaking down further during the pandemic when she she was working from home, a court heard.
Reena James, 43, used a hammer to smash her way into the home next door in Bedford, before using petrol to start a fire that resulted in the collapse of the building
She had previously complained to management about her upstairs neighbour over washing machine use, and the from sounds of her working out in the morning or shouting at her children.
Ms James had alos approached police, councillors and her landlord to pursue the issue, the inquest in Ampthill was told.
A coroner on Tuesday concluded that Ms James died by misadventure, following a day-long hearing at Bedfordshire Coroner’s Court.
Three people, including a firefighter, were taken to hospital suffering with smoke inhalation with one resident being inflicted with leg injuries.
A neighbour had attempted to rescue Ms James, who had lived alone in a ground floor flat of the building since 2010, but had succumbed to her injuries and was found dead in his flat.
Opening the inquest, Bedfordshire senior coroner Emma Whitting said: ‘At around 9.30am on 4 July last year there was an explosion and substantial fire in the block of flats in Redwood Grove flats.
‘The fire spread causing catastrophic damage to the structure.’
Fire investigator Trevor Gradwell-Smith said: ‘The petrol was spread across surfaces and formed a mist which when mixed with air created a vapour cloud.
Three people, including a firefighter, were taken to hospital suffering with smoke inhalation with one resident being inflicted with leg injuries
The explosion sent a window frame flying 50m on to an industrial roof and that glass was found 20-30m from the building
‘The cause of the fire was ignition by a naked flame.’
He said the explosion sent a window frame flying 50m on to an industrial roof and that glass was found 20-30m from the building.
Mr Gradwell-Smith said a neighbour from flat 286 had tried to pull Ms James to a place of safety after the explosion. She was found in the living area of his flat.
Petrol residue was found on Ms James’ pyjama bottoms, but the container that would have been used to hold the petrol had not been found.
He added: ‘We located a claw hammer which we believed was used to forced entry.’
Mr Gradwell-Smith said that it was not until the following day that they were able to confirm there were no more casualties.
Pathologist Dr Virginia Fitpatrick-Swallow found the cause of Ms James’ death to be head and chest injurie after most likely being thrown hard against a wall from the force of the explosion.
‘She would have been unconscious within milliseconds of explosion,’ she said.
Ms James was not found to have any traces of alcohol or other substances in her body.
Burns and trauma specialist Niall Martin said he believed Ms James was rendered unconscious but did not die immediately after the explosion.
A neighbour had attempted to rescue Ms James, who had lived alone in a ground floor flat of the building since 2010, but had succumbed to her injuries
He said she would have had ‘waning signs of life’ for up to 30 minutes before finally succumbing.
Dr Fitzpatrick-Swallow said a brain expert said Reena would have been unconscious but survived for over an hour.
The coroner concluded she died of misadventure, adding that the cause of death was blast injuries.
She said: ‘There is no evidence to suggest she meant to do harm to herself. It seems clear she did intent to light a fire of some sorts.
‘She did not intend the consequences let alone her own death.’
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