Dad killed in fireball at Handsworth home

Feb 9 2009 by Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

Resident Gurdip Hayer said: “I came home at about 6.30pm and found the whole road was cordoned off.

“There were police cars and a fire engine here. I’ve lived here for 30 years and all sorts of things happen in this area.”

Next door neighbour Jamal Ahmed said: “It’s a terrible shock. He was a nice, quiet guy who kept himself to himself.”

Det Insp Bob Bradford, from Thornhill Road CID, said: “A man was found at a house with serious burns and died as a consequence of those burns at 4am today.

“We are treating the man’s death as suspicious and are investigating how those burns may have occurred. We have an investigation team working on it.”

A Home Office pathologist will carry out a post-mortem examination to determine the precise cause of death.

Forensic experts were due to carry out a search of the property for clues to the incident and police were also expected to conduct house-to-house inquiries in the area.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “Police were called to an address in Church Hill Road, Handsworth, at 5.15pm on Friday to reports of a man on fire.

“Officers found a man suffering from significant burns.”

Anyone with information about the incident should call detectives at Thornhill Road CID on 0845 113 5000 or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.