Guilty plea after shop fire death

Mark Radnedge was remanded in custody by magistrates

A man who set fire to a newsagent's shop in Bristol killing the owner, has admitted manslaughter, causing grievous bodily harm and burglary.

Mark Radnedge, 32 and homeless, appeared at Bristol Crown Court and denied a charge of murder. He will be sentenced later.

Nasir Sayeed, 46, and his daughter Nisha, were trapped by flames after the shop in Knowle West was set alight.

Mr Sayeed was taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary where he later died.

The blaze on Axbridge Road, happened in the early hours of Friday 15 February 2008.

Radnedge had denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the court on Friday.

He also admitted wounding Mr Ahmed's daughter, Nudrat Nasir, 21, who spent more than a week in hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

Radnedge pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to Gulzar Ahmed and Tasdeeq Quereshi, as well as common assault on Sajeed Hassen and burglary at the newsagent's, where he stole tobacco, fireworks, non-prescription medicine and a charity box.

He was remanded in custody for psychiatric and probation reports for sentencing later.