Jockey deaths fire accused will not take stand

Peter Brown denies two murder charges

A man accused of killing two jockeys by setting fire to the block of flats in which they were sleeping has declined to give evidence at his trial.

Jamie Kyne, 18, from County Galway, in the Irish Republic, and Jan Wilson, 19, from Forfar in Angus, died in the fire at flats near Malton, North Yorkshire.

Peter Brown, 37, of Brotherton, North Yorkshire, denies starting the fire at the Buckrose Court complex last year.

A jury at Leeds Crown Court heard he would not take to the witness box.

Prosecutors have told the jury that Mr Brown started the fire when he lit rubbish in the communal entrance to the block of flats on 5 September 2009.

They claim Mr Brown set fire to the complex as an act of revenge after he was refused entry to a party in one of the flats.

After the prosecution finished presenting its case on Wednesday, Paul Watson QC, defending, told the jury his client would exercise his right not to give evidence.

Mr Brown denies two murder charges.

He also denies two alternative charges of manslaughter and one charge of arson with intent to endanger life.

The trial continues.

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