'White spirit' murder trial hears of fatal struggle

Angela Eastwood died from burns and inhalation of white spirit fumes after a row at the couple’s home in Thurcroft two days after last Christmas.

Prosecutors say that Eastwood brought white spirit from the garage, poured it over his wife and set her clothes alight with a cigarette lighter.

But in one version of events the out-of-work joiner told police that he had been threatening to leave and had intended to burn clothes he had packed in a bag and his wife was trying to keep hold of.

Mr Bryan Cox, prosecuting said: “He said he had packed some clothes to leave and his wife had emptied the bag and told him he could not take some of the clothes and a sweatshirt was ripped.

“He said: ‘If I can’t have them, neither can you.’”

Mr Cox said Eastwood said he had fetched the liquid intending to make his wife think he was going to burn the clothes when she came for him 'kicking and scratching'. The spirit had spilled on her and was set alight with her cigarette.

Eastwood denies murder. The trial continues.

Wife set alight during row, court told.