Trio ‘murdered five in insurance scam blast’
FIVE people were murdered in a huge explosion when a shop was torched as part of a botched insurance scam, a court heard.
Mary Ragoobeer, 46, her sons Shane, 18, and Sean, 17, and Shane’s girlfriend Leah Reek, 18, were killed in the massive blast.
They were enjoying a “peaceful Sunday evening” in their flat above the shop when it exploded.
Latvian shop worker Viktorija Ijevleva also died in the tragedy in Leicester on February 25.
Aram Kurd, who owned the business, and friends Arkan Ali and Hawkar Hassan are accused of murder and manslaughter.
They also face a charge of conspiring with Miss Ijevleva, who was Ali’s girlfriend, to commit fraud by false representation. Leicester Crown Court heard the three Kurdish men hoped to pocket £300,000 by claiming the blast was accidental.
They poured “vast amounts” of petrol inside the store before deliberately sparking it, jurors were told. Prosecutor David Herbert QC said Miss Ijevleva had “assisted” the defendants to obtain insurance for the business.
“The defendants thought she knew too much and decided to leave her to die in the explosion.”
Ali, 37, of Oldham, Hassan, 33, of Coventry, and Kurd, 34, of Leicester, deny all charges.
The trial continues. The aftermath of the deadly blast SCARLETT Moffatt revealed yesterday she has come to terms with vile trolls who abuse her online, saying: “I just want to hug them.”
Scarlett, 28, told how she finally beat her anxiety and body-confidence issues by realising she cannot please everybody and “taking the rough with the smooth”.
Speaking in the run-up to this year’s I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! she said she had learned to fend off hurtful jibes about her weight and clothes that used to make her weep.
The former Gogglebox star said on Australia’s Gold Coast: “You have just got to try and blank it out. I always think, ‘I wouldn’t say that’ so then you have to think, ‘What frame of mind are these people in?’
“If anything, I just want them all. They need a hug.”
Last July, after an appearance as a pundit on Love Island, Scarlett sparked fears by admitting online how she was “crying her eyes out” over nasty comments.
She said at the time: “Feel like I can’t even film TV shows without hating the way that I look from constantly being attacked.”
But she is much more prepared now as she gets set to front ITV2 jungle spin-off show Extra Camp alongside Joel Dommett and Joe Swash on Australia’s Gold Coast.
Scarlett, who won I’m A Celeb in 2016, said: “I have been sort of catapulted into this industry in the last two years – it is all really new to me.
“If I have learnt anything that can encourage other people I would say, ‘Try to focus and love the people that are loving you rather than hate the people hating you.’ Otherwise you get into this cycle of negative thoughts.”
Scarlett said she had read “so to hug many” books and spoken to her mum about the issue, as well as drawing comfort and support from positive messages she received from fans.
She added: “I try to encourage other people to realise they are not the only ones to get that hate.
“Once you realise that it is a bit more comforting because you know it is not a personal attack and it happens to everyone.
“I would say the majority of people have had comments through social media in their life but the more followers you have, the more hate you are going to get. You just have to take the rough with the smooth.” Scarlett also said close friend Ant McPartlin will be missed on this year’s I’m A Celeb as he recovers in the UK from his personal troubles but tipped him to bounce back next year.
And she is certain Holly Willoughby, who is standing in for him as co-presenter, will make a great partner for Declan Donnelly.
Scarlett, who works with Ant and Dec on Saturday Night Takeaway, said: “I think we’re all going to miss Ant, that’s obvious, we all love him.
“But Holly is so professional and amazing at what she does. I honestly couldn’t think of anyone better.”
Joel and Joe also forecast Holly will be a success on the show with Dec.
Joel said: “There’s this weird thing where you see them stood together and they look natural, even though they’ve never been together before.”
Joe added: “I think Holly’s going to be brilliant. It’s lovely to see how excited she is about things.”
I’m A Celebrity... Extra Camp starts on ITV2 at 10.45pm on Sunday.