Kenneth Broughton

Kenneth Broughton died in a fire at his home in the early hours of 7 December 2003. 

Two youths were tried for his murder but acquitted in 2004. 

Kenneth Broughton had been at home with his brother at the time, but his brother survived, although he suffered serious burns and sepnt several months in hospital.  

The fire was started with an accelerant, however, the police said that they thought that the people that started it might not have intended it to be as serious as it became. It was said that at least a litre of petrol had been poured in through the letterbox around 4am and set alight.

They had lived in a ground floor flat and the fire was said to have spread rapidly totheir bedrooms, trapping them. Kenneth Broughton were heard shouting from help from within their flat.

It was heard that Kenneth Broughton and his brother had been obese and had been regularly mocked by youths on the estate because of their appearance.

At the trial, the prosecution said:

A witness said that she recognised one of the youths's tried around the time of the fire, stating that they saw him with another youth that had a can of petrol.

Another witness said that they saw the two youths leave the scene of the fire laughing. 

However, the youths said that they had been at home asleep at the time.