A man has denied a charge of murder following a fire at a house near Spalding.
Samuel Church, 36, of Acacia Avenue in Spalding pleaded not guilty to the murder of Vincent Markham when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court this morning (Friday, December 23).
He also denied two other charges of attempting to pervert the course of public justice and arson with being reckless to endanger life.
Lincolnshire Police said Mr Markham, aged 52, died as a result of an assault at a property in Farrow Road, at Whaplode Drove, on August.
Emergency services were called to the property following reports of an explosion at the home at about 1am.
Mr Markham died at the scene, and police said ‘100 per cent’ of the home was destroyed in the incident.
Church was taken to hospital following the incident and was arrested whilst there.
He remained under arrest, and with police guard until his release from hospital, where he was taken into police detention.
Judge Simon Hirst adjourned the case for trial at Lincoln Crown Court on 16 February next year.
His trial is expected to last seven days.
Church was remanded into custody until his trial.
