Suspicious fire at old murder scene

Police are appealing for information after a fire broke out at the home of David Jaworski in Haddington, East Lothian.

The house was the scene of a murder which shocked the local community in 1998, when Mr Jaworski's 18-year-old daughter Kerry, pictured, was strangled to death in her sleep by her younger sister Stephanie, then aged 15.

She was jailed for life in 1999 after confessing to police. Her brother Ryan, then 14, was also tried for the murder but was acquitted.

Neighbours said cars outside the house were set alight, and one resident raised the alarm before trying to break in to check no-one was inside.

Mr Jaworski, who is understood to be partially disabled, was described as a "recluse" by local residents, who said since the murder he had withdrawn from the community. They said he kept his curtains shut and did not answer his front door.

One witness, who asked not to be named, said: "I woke up about 2am and thought I could hear rain. I looked out my side window and when I saw it was bone dry I just knew there was a fire. The whole side of the house across the road was alight. It was quite an inferno. I immediately called 999 but I don't think anyone was in the house at the time.

"The fire engines were here for about an hour before they were satisfied it was out.

"Two cars at the side of the house had been set alight. To me it looks like arson because cars don't just burst into flames. They had been in the garden for months, I think they were just used for scrap."

Another neighbour, who also asked to remain anonymous, said her father had been one of the first on the scene.

"The fire woke my parents up, and my dad called the fire brigade and then rushed over to see if the guy was in his house," she said.

"Everyone knows about what happened there and you never see him. He never comes out. There hasn't been any trouble here before though so it was a bit of a shock."

There was no answer at the house yesterday but the burnt out cars were still there. The fire also damaged the back gate, but fortunately did not spread to the house or any other nearby properties.

Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade said it appeared that the fire had started in two vehicles parked outside the house, and had spread to the building. They were tackling the blaze for over an hour and carried out a full search of the house.

A police spokesman said: "Police are investigating a fire at an address in Monkmains Road, Haddington, in the early hours of last Thursday morning.

"Anyone who was in the area at around 2.15am and noticed any suspicious activity should contact police immediately."