A Spalding man admits to killing another man who was found dead after a fire in his home

A man has pleaded guilty to murdering 52-year-old Vincent Markham and perverting the course of public justice by setting a fire at the property in Farrow Road, Whaplode Drove on 7th August last year.

36-year-old, Samuel Church appeared at Lincoln Crown Court today (16th February) for the beginning of his trial, but before the jury was sworn in, he changed his plea.

Samuel Church, from Acacia Avenue in Spalding, was charged with the murder of Vincent Markham, perverting the court of justice by setting a fire at the property and reckless arson to endanger lives.

Today he was due to stand trial after previously pleading not guilty to all counts, however, he changed that to guilty on two counts.

The charge of reckless arson to endanger lives will lie on file.

The court heard that Mr Church originally entered a not guilty plea as he did not intend to kill Vincent but did intend to cause him serious harm.

Emergency services had received several reports of a fire at the property on Farrow Road in Spalding, and that an injured man was in the front garden. The fire was described as an explosion, this was shortly after 1am on August 7th last year.

The man, who was later named as 52-year-old Vincent Markham, from the Spalding area, was found dead at the scene and police say 100 percent of the home was destroyed in the incident.

Initially it was believed that he had died as a result of the fire. However, it later became apparent that he had sustained a facial injury, with a post-mortem examination concluding that Vincent Markham had died as a result of an assault.

Samuel Church, aged 36, of Acacia Avenue in Spalding, was also located at the scene of the fire, at the junction of Broadgate. where he had sustained burn injuries.

Samuel Church told a member of the public who came to his aid that he had tried to get someone out of the fire. He was taken to hospital to be treated, but following his release was arrested and charged with murder and perverting the course of justice.

Detective Inspector Adrian Czajkowski, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: “Our investigations revealed that Church had assaulted Mr Markham before starting the fire. This was a very tragic incident and our thoughts are with Mr Markham’s family.”

Whilst in court today, Judge Simon Hirst said to Mr Samuel Church:

"You have pleaded guilty to murder and perverting the course of justice.

"You know that a sentence of life imprisonment awaits you. What you don't know is the minimum term of detention that you will serve."

Mr Church will now return to the court for sentencing on the 14th of April.