One killed in house fire
Witnesses believe that the fire was started by man seeking revenge on his wife after a heated quarrel.
Estella Naicker
The man believed to have started a fire in Utrecht, killing his girlfriend’s mentally challenged child and leaving a family of four homeless, was arrested last week.
Elma Harding, whose husband was brutally stabbed to death a month ago, and her three children, managed to escape the blaze that gutted their home with just the pyjamas they wore to bed that night. They owe the fact that they made it out of the inferno alive, to a family friend who agreed to stay over and take care of the family after their tragic loss.
Mrs Harding’s mother and spokesperson for the bereaved family, Christine Els, said the man believed to have started the fire, his girlfriend, and her son lived in an outbuilding, attached to the main house, for the last four weeks as a favour to their church.
“The church asked Elma to allow them to stay in the outbuilding after discovering that they were living in their car. She agreed as a favour to the church, especially considering that the son was mentally challenged,” began Mrs Els.
“On Monday, the man living in the outbuilding was heard quarrelling with his girlfriend. Later that night, a family friend staying with Elma heard commotion outside and realised that the outbuilding was on fire. He ushered the family out, and the neighbours came to help put out the fire but when the trap door came down, it was as if the entire house just exploded. Everyone managed to get out safely except the mentally challenged son, whose burns were so severe that he died in hospital the next day. We later heard allegations that the man who was living in the outbuilding threw spirits on clothing and set it alight deliberately.”
Investigating officer, Hennie Heyns, confirmed that the man had been arrested and a date for his bail application will be set next week.“Family, friends and the church have helped a great deal with food, clothing and other donations since the fire and we are grateful for the help. My daughter and her children are staying with me until they can get back on their feet,” concluded Mrs Els.
