Denise Keane-Barnett-Simmons, who is Eddy Grant’s niece, was pulled from the burning house in Brent, north-west London, by the Fire Brigade on Thursday
A 44-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a primary school classroom assistant after she burnt to death in a house fire.
Denise Keane-Barnett-Simmons, who is Eddy Grant’s niece, was pulled from the burning house in Brent, north-west London, by firefighters on Thursday April 16.
The 36-year-old, whose mother was married to the Electric Avenue singer’s brother, died in hospital after being dragged from the blaze.
Damion Simmons, of no fixed address, has now been charged the the murder of Denise Keane-Barnett-Simmons.
He was also charged with disclosing private and sexual photographs with intent to cause distress, and voyeurism. And also arson with intent to endanger life.
Firefighters rushed to the scene in Brent, north west London, at around 2.15am on Thursday, April 16.
Despite efforts from doctors, Miss Keane-Barnett-Simmons was tragically pronounced dead at 6am. A post-mortem examination found her cause of death as burns and inhalation of fire fumes.
She was a year one teaching assistant at Pakeman Primary School in north London.
A second woman, in her 60s, who was also pulled from a window of the terraced house by a heroic neighbour and firefighters was taken to hospital but was not in a life-threatening condition.
A referral has been made to the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards following police contact with the victim a few hours prior to this incident
Despite efforts from doctors, Miss Keane-Barnett-Simmons was tragically pronounced dead at 6am on Thursday April 16
Mr Simmons was also charged with criminal damage endangering life, disclosing private and sexual photographs with intent to cause distress, and voyeurism.
He is set to appear before Willesden Magistrates’ Court this morning.
On the night, Brave neighbour Dominic Scanlon ran to the rescue after he was woken up by calls of ‘help, help’ – grabbing a ladder and scaling two garden fences to get to the property.
The 52-year-old tube driver grabbed a ladder and jumped two garden fences to reach the property where the victim’s auntie was trapped inside and screaming for help.
Dominic, of Harlesden, north west London, said: ‘I heard shouting and screaming and thought it was a party.
Eddy Grant was a founding member of The Equals and had a successful solo career with the hit single Electric Avenue
‘Then I heard ‘help, help’ and I ran down stairs to open the front door. The flames were engulfing the house.
‘I ran into the garden to get the ladder and climbed over two garden fences and climbed up to the older woman.
‘I shouted ‘is there anybody else in there’ twice, but no one answered.’
‘I stayed with her all the time holding onto her so she wasn’t alone until the fire brigade arrived.’
A fireman joined Dominic in trying to pull the woman, in her sixties, out of the window, but the pair struggled until a second fireman managed to free her.
The woman spent the next hour with paramedics and police in her neighbour’s house where Dominic was staying with his cousin.
But Dominic he did not consider himself a hero after his show of bravery.
He said: ‘It was pure adrenaline. It wasn’t heroic. It’s looking after another human being, no matter what race or religion.’
Dominic said Ms Keane-Simmons mother was Merle Keane-Grant, who was married to Patrick Grant, Eddy Grant’s brother.
Met Police has referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) – a move all British forces make when a person dies after recent contact with police.
A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘Damion Simmons, 44, of no fixed address, was charged on the evening of Wednesday, April 29 with the murder of Denise Michelle Keane-Barnett-Simmons, who was aged 36 and lived in Brent.
She made contact with the police a few hours before the fire. Her neighbour Dominic Scanlon came to the house when he heard someone calling ‘help, help’
‘He was further charged with arson with intent to endanger life, criminal damage endangering life, disclosing private and sexual photographs with intent to cause distress, and voyeurism.
‘He was remanded to appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on the morning of Thursday, 30 April.
‘Police were called to a fire at a residential address in Alric Avenue, NW10 at 2.15am on Thursday, 16 April.
‘Denise was taken to hospital with serious injuries and pronounced dead at 6.07am.
‘A post-mortem examination at Northwick Park on Wednesday, April 22 gave cause of death as burns and inhalation of fire fumes.
‘Another woman, aged in her 60s, was also taken to hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
‘A referral was made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in relation to previous police contact with the victim. The IOPC has launched an independent investigation.’
Neighbour Eamon Gaffrey, 62, said: ‘She was a very nice, pleasant young woman. She always smiled and said hello when she passed.’
Meghan Smyth, who lives across from the burnt terraced house, said the blaze completely destroyed the property and left it ‘black from top to bottom’.