A fire which ripped through a house killing a 61-year-old reached temperatures of 1,000C, a Douglas Courthouse has heard.

Terence Losh perished in the fire, described as an "inferno", at his flat in Demesne Road, Douglas in March 2009.

Simon Leece, 35, of Fairfield Terrace, denies murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

Forensic scientist Stephen Andrews said "the inferno was so powerful it burst into his flat and through his roof".

He said the fire started on the ground floor, spread up the communal stairwell, blocking the main escape route for residents, and "mushroomed out at the top of the building like a chimney effect".

'No accidental cause'

"This fire was extremely hot and prolonged. It even melted glass.

"To do that temperatures must have been between 850 and 1,000C."

Mr Andrews added that the fire had caused so much structural damage to the building that fire crews struggled to retrieve the body.

Mr Leece is also accused of starting three other fires in the Douglas area.

Mr Andrews concluded that there was no "accidental cause to any of these fires".

The trial continues.

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