Norfolk coroner rules 89-year-old was killed unlawfully following house fire
The fire was started by her grandson, who pleaded guilty to arson and manslaughter due to diminished responsibility
A Norfolk coroner has concluded an 89-year-old woman was killed unlawfully after her grandson set fire to her house.
89-year-old Vera Croghan passed away following a fire at her home in Unthank Road, Norwich in the early hours of December 11, 2020.
The fire was started by her grandson, Chanatorn Croghan, who pleaded guilty to arson and manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.
He was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order under the Mental Health Act back in 2022.
The inquest, which began on Monday 1 July, heard evidence for four days about the circumstances of Vera’s death and the events leading up to it.
This included details of how in June 2020, Chanatorn Croghan had been detained under Section by Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and was under its care at the time of the fire in December 2020.
The inquest also heard evidence that, on the evening before the fire on(10th December 2020), Norfolk Constabulary attended at Vera’s home due to family concerns about Chanatorn’s behaviour.
Vera’s daughter and sons had also raised concerns about her welfare with her GP and the Norfolk County Council Adult Safeguarding team in 2019.
The family is now being supported by the charities Hundred Families which campaigns for the victims of mental health homicides and AAFDA, Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse.