Firefighter 'killed in gas blast'

Christopher Raisis and Jamie Evans deny manslaughter

A firefighter was killed when a gas canister blew up in an arson attack on a bingo hall last year, Cardiff Crown Court has heard.

Christopher Raisis, 25, and Jamie Evans, 20, both from Cardiff, deny the manslaughter of Richard Jenkins.

The 28-year-old father-of-two died in a blaze at Ely in the city in May 2004.

Mr Raisis and Mr Evans, along with Craig Sterio, 31, also deny charges of intimidation, robbery and two counts of actual bodily harm. The case continues.

Mr Jenkins, from Bryntirion, Bridgend, had been the first firefighter to enter the burning building.

On Wednesday, the jury was told by Gareth Carroll, who lived close to the scene, that he had been watching the blaze with his friend Mr Evans.

The death of Mr Jenkins was more than sad, it was more than tragic, it was the direct result of a crime Tim Evans, prosecutor

The court heard Mr Carroll, 20, saying he had overheard a phone call in which Mr Evans told someone: "You've killed the firefighter".

Giving evidence by video link, Mr Carroll then alleged Mr Evans had told him he had been in the hall with Mr Raisis, and had seen Mr Raisis grinning after starting the fatal blaze.

The jury also heard Mr Carroll claim that Mr Raisis and Mr Evans, along with Mr Sterio, had attacked him at his home the day after the fire, accusing him of being "a grass" and stole his mobile phone.

Prosecuting, Tim Evans told the court that the canister had exploded five minutes after Mr Jenkins had entered the building, and also injured two other firefighters.

The jury heard colleagues had tried to resuscitate Mr Jenkins at the scene, but he had no pulse and had serious face and skull injuries.

Richard Jenkins on his wedding day with wife Catherine

"When a dedicated firefighter such as Mr Jenkins loses their life in thecourse of duty it is plainly a tragedy," he said.

"But the prosecution's central allegation in this case will be that the death of Mr Jenkins was more than sad, it was more than tragic, it was the direct result of a crime."

He told the court that independent experts believed the fire was started deliberately in more than one place.

Mr Jenkins, had worked at Barry for 18 months after joining the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service in 2002.

He left a widow, Catherine, a son, Conor, aged nine, and a daughter, Charlotte, six.