Murder accused 'calm' over blaze

Kirsty Wilson's body was set alight with petrol, the court has heard

A man accused of strangling his partner and setting fire to her body was calm when he told firefighters she was in their burning house, a jury has heard.

Firefighter Paul Bills told the Old Bailey he was surprised not to hear shouting or screaming when he arrived at 41-year-old Alan Jermey's property.

Mr Jermey denies murdering Kirsty Wilson, 34 in Woking, Surrey.

The jury has heard Mercedes executive Miss Wilson was having an affair with her boss at a garage in Hampshire.

She was planning to leave Mr Jermey, and their house in Greenmeads was about to be put on the market.

After setting Miss Wilson's body alight with petrol Mr Jermey took the couple's children on to a flat roof, the court has heard.

He rang emergency services but did not mention his partner was still inside the building until two minutes into the call.

Climbed down

Mr Bills said he climbed up a ladder to rescue the two girls.

Mr Jermey made his way down the ladder on his own before being spoken to by another officer.

"There was a question put to him, 'is there anyone inside?' to which he said 'my partner is downstairs' which he said in a very calm way," Mr Bills said.

The court has heard Mr Jermey later claimed billowing black smoke prevented him from going down the stairs to Miss Wilson's aid.

But Mr Bills said it would have been easier for Mr Jermey to have walked downstairs and out of the house than clamber on to the roof to safety.

The firefighter later went into the house where he found Miss Wilson's body in the living room.

She was completely lifeless and it was apparent she had been there for some time, Mr Bills added.

The trial continues.