THE crown courts in Essex have been on full throttle once again this week. Serious crimes have been dealt with by defendants being sentenced, and trials of major alleged crimes have been playing out as well. Here is a rundown of the most serious cases heard at Basildon and Chelmsford Crown Courts this week.
Gang tried to kill man by setting him on fire
Southchurch Avenue Basildon Crown Court heard that four people allegedly tried to murder the man in Southchurch Avenue, Southend on October 30, 2019. Shocking police body cam footage showed PC Rebecca Halifax attending an emergency call and finding the man with severe burns across his body sat in a bedroom.
A MAN suffered burns to 60 per cent of his body after a gang set him on fire with petrol, a court heard. Basildon Crown Court heard that four people allegedly tried to murder the man in Southchurch Avenue, Southend on October 30, 2019. Shocking police body cam footage showed PC Rebecca Halifax attending an emergency call and finding the man with severe burns across his body sat in a bedroom. Alan Archer, 33, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff, Paul Pruns, 53, of York Road, Southend, Ben Ince, 41, of no fixed address, and Jane Reilly, 53, of Trowbridge Road, Harold Hill, deny attempted murder. A jury was told the attack was carried out in the early hours of the morning, with the alleged victim returning to his home at 1.34am.