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Man quizzed after woman dies in blaze
Rob Singh, Evening Standard27 Aug 2008
A man was arrested on suspicion of murder today after a mother-of-two was found dead inside her burning house.
Kirsty Wilson was discovered by emergency services after they had rescued her daughters - Alicia, eight and two-year-old Polly - from the £450,000 home.
Ms Wilson, 34, and her partner Alan Jermey had lived at the property in Woking for four years.
Firefighters arrived at the home shortly after midnight today after a 999 call was made from inside the property. They found smoke billowing out the windows.
Mr Jermey, Alicia and Polly climbed out onto the roof and were rescued by firefighters on ladders.
Senior detectives were called to the scene after Ms Wilson's body was found in the ground floor living room, where the fire started.
A 40-year-old man from Woking was arrested on suspicion of murder at about 3am. The house was later taped off as forensic scientists began a search.
The children were taken to Frimley Park Hospital near Camberley suffering from smoke inhalation.
Nick Cloke, spokesman for Surrey Police, said that the daughters are now with relatives.
Neighbours in Greenmeads, Woking, described their shock at seeing the popular couple's family home sealed off.
One mother, who asked not to be named, said of Ms Wilson: "She always seemed really nice, a really good mother and a really nice friend. They were just a really nice family. When we arrived back from holiday at about 3am this morning, we saw all the police cars.
"I tried to shield my children from it because they played with Alicia. It is a real shock. I met Kirsty for drinks with other mums not so long ago.
"I think she works full-time and the kids were often at a childminder. This is just such a tragedy, I can't believe it has happened."
Another woman neighbour said: "The family that lives there is quite young. They have two daughters and they often wave hello. They are just a very attractive young family who seemed to be doing quite well for themselves."
• A millionaire and his family are missing after their country house in Shropshire burned down in a suspected arson attack.
It is not known if Jillian and Christopher Foster and teenage daughter Kirsty were in the £1.2million Osbaston House in Maesbrook when it caught fire at about 5am yesterday but they remain unaccounted for.
Police are investigating and will search the property when it is safe to enter.
