Fire Erupts at Southsea Home with Dark History
A blazing fire tore through a Southsea property on Waverley Road in the early hours of Thursday morning. Emergency crews from Hampshire Fire and police rushed to the scene of the dramatic blaze that destroyed parts of the building.
A Home Linked to a Shocking Murder
The property holds a grim past. It was the very place where Christopher Butler, 27, was brutally murdered on New Year’s Eve 2015. Butler was struck with an axe in an attack initially denied by police but later confirmed at trial. Two men, high on Spice at the time, were jailed at Portsmouth Crown Court for his murder.
Fire Starts in Garden, Spreads Quickly
The fire started shortly after 12.30am in the front garden, where rubbish and building materials had been left during ongoing renovations. Flames quickly spread to the house, causing extensive damage to windows and the cellar. Luckily, the building was empty as building work was underway. Neighbours were safely evacuated as firefighters tackled the blaze.
Arson Not Ruled Out
Hampshire Fire and Rescue warned they have not excluded arson as a cause. A spokesman said: “Crews were initially sent to tackle a small open fire but once on site, the situation was found to be more serious, prompting more appliances to be dispatched.”
The damaged home was being converted into apartments before the fire struck.
