A woman accused of torching her former lover’s hom

A woman accused of torching her former lover’s home told an
Old Bailey jury today Monday she was the victim of a bizarre
coincidence.

Greta Grant, 39, was found in an alleyway near the victim’s
home, reeking of petrol and with singed hair moments after the
blaze began.

The fire attack happened just hours after victim Mr Philip
Salmon, 42, had bundled her out of his dry cleaning shop in
Buttesland Street, Hoxton, and called the police.

He told detectives she had become violent after he announced
their 10 year relationship was finally over.

Grant claimed she was walking towards Mr Salmon’s home in
Janice Mews, Ilford, in the early hours of the following morning
when she was arrested.

She said she had cooked dinner for her children then visited
a friend called Veronica before going to Mr Salmon’s third floor
maisonette.

Grant told the jury she had not even reached the laneway the
flat was in when a policewoman challenged her.

She told the jury the strong smell of petrol on her clothes
was from an accident earlier that evening when she was filling
an emergency petrol can for her car.

‘I spilt the petrol down my leggings and my shoes.

I didn’t
change them because I was in a hurry.

I didn’t see the necessity
of changing my clothes twice in one day.

‘My feet were saturated, my leggings were partly soaked.

‘
She attributed her recently singed hair to an accident with
a cigarette.

A burn on her sleeve was from a separate accident
with her cooker, the jury was told.

Miss Susan Edwards, prosecuting, put to her: ‘What was
driving you that night was a bitter hatred for Mr Salmon.

‘
Grant replied: ‘No, that is not right.

It would have been
impossible for me to hump that great petrol container up the
iron stairs.

‘And anyway, it wouldn’t fit through the letterbox.

‘
The court was told a series of petrol soaked rags had been
shoved through the letterbox and set alight.

Grant denied having any rags in her car.

Miss Edwards told her: ‘You were going to make him pay for
humiliating you the previous afternoon, having other women and
telling you lies – revenge.

‘
Grant confidently replied: ‘No.

Not true.

‘
The jury had heard that Mr Salmon was woken by the sound of
an explosion as the petrol was ignited.

Luckily he doused the
blaze before it blocked the only exit to his home.

Grant, a cleaner from Evelyn Court, Murray Grove, Hoxton,
denies recklessly endangering Mr Salmon’s life by arson on April
26 this year.

The trial continues.

ENDS