A minicab driver who looked like escaping trial ov
A minicab driver who looked like escaping trial over the deaths of two tenants in an arson attack may now face justice after all.
Malkit Khatkar, 60, remains accused of the horrendous firebomb attack on his ex-lover’s supermarket which caused an inferno.
More than two years ago the Recorder of London, Judge Michael Hyam, ordered a stay of the proceedings after hearing Khatkar was too ill to face a trial.
The court had heard that Khatkar suffers from an acute heart condition.
But today (fri) the prosecution, who contend he is now fit enough to stand trial, asked for the stay to be lifted.
A date for a new plea and directions hearing will be fixed shortly.
The case was listed for mention on December 22.
Khatkar had been accused of ‘deliberately’ setting the Spar supermarket ablaze in Castle Hill Parade, Ealing, w London in the erly hours of September 9, 1996.
The Crown had alleged Khatkar used petrol in the arson attack after the owner of the shop, Amarjit Gill, 36, spurned his affections and refused to marry him.
Tragically two people, who lived above the Spar, died in the fire – Anthony Waites, 47, and 22-year-old Mark Timpson.
Khatkar, of Berners Drive, West Ealing, had denied two charges of manslaughter and one of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
In September 1998 the Recorder had ordered the charges to lie on the court file.
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