12/02/2010

Murder Appeal After Fatal Fire

A murder inquiry is underway after a 63-year-old man died following a fire at his home in Catford.

Last Thursday police were alerted by the London Fire Brigade to a fire at a house on Pattenden Road SE6.

Frank Hancock, 63, was rescued from a ground floor flat in the house by fire-fighters and was taken to Lewisham Hospital suffering severe burns.

He was subsequently transferred to Chelmsford hospital where he died on Tuesday.

"Next-of-kin have been informed and though we await formal identification police are satisfied that the deceased is Mr Hancock," a Met police spokesman said.

DCI Caroline Goode, from the Met's Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "We would like to appeal for witnesses to come forward who may have seen Mr Hancock on the 4 February, in the time leading up to his death."

She called for anyone who lives in the area, or witnessed anything suspicious to come forward.

On 5 February a woman was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. She was taken to a south London police station and later bailed to return in March pending further enquiries.

(PR/GK)

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