Arsonist jailed for fire which killed friend

A man who deliberately started a house fire which killed his friend has been jailed for 17-and-a-half years.

Raimondas Vejelis, 52, was one of six people rescued from flats in Hillhouse Lane, Huddersfield, after the blaze in the early hours of 14 February 2024. He died from his injuries in hospital four days later.

Polish national Marcin Kramarski, 43, of Hillhouse Lane, was jailed for manslaughter at Leeds Crown Court earlier, having been found guilty at a trial in September.

Judge Howard Crowson told Kramarski he "must live with the guilt and responsibility" of killing his friend.

The court heard Kramarski and his partner had been staying at Mr Vejelis' flat in Fartown, but all three were due to be evicted.

Prosecutor Sharon Beattie said Kramarski had set fire to a bin and placed it between the doors of two flats, one of which Mr Vejelis was asleep inside.

A family of four, including two children, were asleep in the other household and jumped out of a first-floor window to safety when they were alerted to the blaze.

At trial, Kramarski later claimed he and Mr Vejelis had started the fire as a "prank", having initially denied any knowledge of how it started.

Judge Crowson told the defendant, who appeared in court via a video link from HMP Leeds: "[You] sought to blame your friend and exonerate yourself."

Ms Beattie described Mr Vejelis as "particularly vulnerable" and said it had not been possible to identify his next of kin.

In a victim impact statement, Kramarski's neighbour said: "I cry on a daily basis just at the thought of losing my children.

"The continued nightmares about February 14 are unbearable."

Mitigating, Tom Storey KC said his client had a long-running alcohol misuse problem.

The court was told Kramarski had been arrested 49 times since arriving in the UK aged 25, with him being reported as being under the influence of alcohol on 43 occasions.

Mr Storey said the defendant regarded Mr Vejelis as a friend.

However, Judge Crowson told Kramarski: "I'm not persuaded that your claims of remorse are true."

He said Kramarski failed to notify anyone of the fire for "at least" 15 minutes, while Ms Beattie said he initially denied anyone else was inside Mr Vejelis' flat and made "no attempt" to make his neighbours upstairs aware of the blaze.

"The outcome was the tragic death of Raimondas Vejelis that could have been far worse," said Judge Crowson.

Kramarski was also sentenced to eight years in jail for arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, to be served concurrently.

He was also told he must serve an extended period of four years on licence following his release from prison.

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