Omelette-spiking murderer guilty

The baby boy was shielded from the fire by Dina Sharpe's body

A man who spiked his girlfriend's omelette, beat her and trapped her by starting a fire in her south London flat, has been convicted of her murder.

Neighbours failed to save Dina Sharpe, 39, who called out for help from her burning flat in Southwark while holding a 17-month-old boy last August.

The toddler survived but suffered 75% burns, the Old Bailey jury heard.

Stephen Singer, 36, was found guilty of murder, attempted murder and arson which recklessly endangered lives.

Singer, a school caretaker of Prospect House, Southwark, had denied all three charges.

'Spiked wine'

The court heard Miss Sharpe, a school cleaner, had been in a "volatile" relationship with Singer who was also involved in another relationship at the same time.

Neighbours heard Miss Sharpe's cries from her fourth-floor flat in Charlton House in the early hours of 3 August.

She was also seen at the window with the child in her arms, with flames in the background.

Andrew Munday, QC, prosecuting, said neighbours were able to save the boy, who was found on the bed shielded partly by Miss Sharpe's body.

Stephen Singer was having relationships with two women

He said a post-mortem examination found the victim died from brain damage due to injuries on her face and head, and her blood contained traces of sleeping pills which were also found in a glass of wine and half an omelette at the flat.

Mr Munday said: "Not only did he (Singer) spike the omelette, but also the wine."

Singer hoped to give Miss Sharpe a "fatal overdose or at least to incapacitate her", he added.

Police said Singer "viciously assaulted" her when the drugs took effect.

Singer was seen buying lighter fuel the day before the fire at the flat.

Forensic experts found lighter fuel at three places in the bedroom where the fire was started, the court heard.

Det Ch Insp Carl Mehta said: "This is an absolutely horrific case and the level of callousness and brutality used by Singer to plan and execute the murder is just unimaginable."

Singer will be sentenced on 13 July.