Killer arsonist Marcin Kramarski has been jailed for starting a fire that claimed the life of a flatmate – and forced a family to escape with their lives.
Kramarski, 43, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Raimondas Vejelis who died of injuries sustained in the fire in Hillhouse Lane, Fartown, Huddersfield, on February 14 last year. Kramarski was jailed for 21 years and six months.
The blaze in the early hours of the morning resulted in the death of Kramarski’s flatmate Raimondas Vejelis, 52, and also forced a family in an upstairs flat to flee or risk being trapped. A mum had to throw her child from a second floor window as flames ripped through the flats.
Kramarski was found guilty of manslaughter and arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered in a trial which began at Leeds Crown Court on September 4.
The fire happened in Hillhouse Lane, Fartown, on February 14
Police were called to Hillhouse Lane, Fartown at 2.45am on February 14 to reports a large fire was underway at flats. Emergency services attended and located Kramarski and Raimondas Vejelis with serious injuries. Sadly, Raimondas died from the injuries on February 18.
Detailed investigations at the scene determined the fire had started inside a wheelie bin which had been pushed up alongside the property by Kramarski. Specialist investigators also found the fire could not have been started accidentally, and that injuries sustained by the 42-year-old could only have come from lighting the fire itself.
Det Chief Insp Stacey Atkinson of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, who led the investigation, said: “Marcin Kramarski has today been sentenced for starting a terrible fire which took the life of his flatmate and risked the lives of a young family living upstairs.
“It is thankful they were able to escape otherwise the outcome of what was already a terrible incident could have been even worse.
“Deliberately starting a fire at a residential address is one of the most dangerous and reckless acts anyone can commit, and we are pleased to see Kramarski sentenced for his crime.
“We may never know just what motivated him to start the fire he lit on that night, but his actions resulted in death and serious trauma for those around him.
“He will now have to live with that in prison as he starts a significant sentence.”
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