Accused man in Kyne death case refuses to give evidence

A man accused of killing two young jockeys, one of them Irish, by setting fire to the block of flats in which they were sleeping declined to give evidence at his trial today.

Father-of-one Peter Brown (aged 37) is accused of starting a blaze in a block of flats in Norton, North Yorkshire, and murdering Jamie Kyne, 18, from Kiltrogue, Co Galway, and Jan Wilson, 19, from Forfar, Scotland.

Today, Richard Mansell QC, prosecuting, told the jury the prosecution had finished presenting its case after Leeds Crown Court heard some final pieces of evidence in the form of formal admissions.

Paul Watson QC, defending, then told the jury that his client would exercise his right not to take to the witness box.

Prosecutors have told the jury of six men and six women that Brown started the fire when he lit rubbish in the communal entrance to the block of flats known as Buckrose Court.

Brown was a former caretaker for the complex and lived in one of the blocks.

The prosecution case is that a drunken Brown torched the complex as an act of revenge after he was refused entry to a party in one of the flats.

The blaze forced many of the occupants to jump for their lives or climb down drainpipes. Miss Wilson and Mr Kyne were trapped in a top-floor flat.

Among the final items of prosecution evidence read to the jury were post-mortem examination reports which concluded that both jockeys died due to inhaling smoke.

Brown, of School Croft, Brotherton, North Yorkshire, denies two charges of murder, two charges of manslaughter and one of arson with intent to endanger life.

The case was later adjourned until tomorrow.