Accused 'made life difficult' for firefighters

THE owner of a block of flats where two young jockeys died in a fire yesterday spoke of how the man accused of starting the blaze was "making life difficult" for firefighters as they tackled the flames.

Alan Foster told Leeds Crown Court how Peter Brown, 37, was outside the flats complex in Norton, North Yorkshire, as emergency services tackled the fire in which Jamie Kyne, 18, from Kiltrogue, Ireland, and Jan Wilson, 19, from Forfar, died.

During questioning by Paul Watson QC, defending, Mr Foster, said: "Pete was making life difficult for the firemen, jumping on them and shouting."

Mr Foster told the jury how, earlier in the year, he had given people in one of the flats notice to leave after a noisy party.

This was a different flat to the one in which the jockeys died, which was on the top floor.

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

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 trial continues.