Telford car blaze victims recognised accused, court hears

Waqar Hussain, 26, allegedly went to the house wearing a mask with another man and set alight two vehicles shortly after midnight on September 19, 2016.

He denies arson at the dwelling in Crescent Road, Hadley.

Giving evidence in his trial Zarait Bi told the jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court that she was sure it was Hussain as he was her nephew.

Speaking through a Mirpuri interpreter Mrs Bi said: “I saw him quite often, sometimes up to three times a week. I saw him during the day of the incident. I saw him before sunset in the afternoon, but I don’t know what time.I have some problems with some people and he was listening to them.”

She told the jury that she stayed downstairs at the property and that she was in the kitchen at the front of the house when she saw Hussain through the window.

Mrs Bi said: “I was standing by the kitchen sink. As you come near to the cars there is a security light which will come on. He had something on his face and he was holding something in his hand.”

Prosecuting barrister Mr Richard Davenport asked her who she saw.

She replied: “It was Waqar. I told you he is my nephew. I have seen him many times.”

Mr Davenport put to her: “His face was covered.” Mrs Bi replied: “I could see his whole body. He was two to three yards away from me and I actually knocked on the window to ask him, “what are you doing”?

“He was looking around. He was holding something.

“He was wearing a blue jacket. I had seen him wearing it many times. I am 100 per cent sure it was Waqar.”

She said she shouted upstairs to her daughters to tell them that “he was going to do something to the cars” and she dialled 999.

The jury was told that the case relates to a previous incident that happened on September 19, 2015, when Hussain, of Chapel Terrace, Wrockwardine Wood, was the victim of a violent assault involving a group of males.

One man had a knife and Hussain suffered a stab wound.

The defendant in the ensuing case was Amjad Hussain who was charged with affray and subsequently given a community order.

The prosecution said Waqar Hussain was unhappy that the defendant did not get a prison sentence, and at around 12.29am a year to the day, he is alleged to have gone to the address in Crescent Road where Amjad Hussain also lived and set fire to the cars.

Also giving evidence on Wednesday Amjad Hussain told the jury he recognised the defendant by his shape. And he demonstrated to the court Hussain’s walking movement.

The trial continues.