Shop fire death 'unlawful killing'

The explosion happened in October 2001

A verdict of unlawful killing has been recorded on a woman who died when her estranged husband set her furniture shop on fire.

Susan Hooley, 43, and her 41-year-old husband John both received fatal injuries in the explosion in Doncaster on 1 October 2001.

The inquest on Wednesday heard the pair were separated at the time.

Witnesses told police Mr Hooley had gone to the shop in the Wheatley area of the town, and set light to petrol he had sprayed around it.

Five injured

Neighbouring shops in the terraced row had to be evacuated after the fire spread to the roofs of their premises.

Mrs Hooley died in the fire, and her husband died in hospital the next day.

Five other people were injured in the explosion.

The inquest was originally opened in 2001 but was adjourned while the circumstances surrounding the deaths were investigated.