Guilty verdict over murder

20 year old found guilty of murder following the death of Saimah Ali in a house fire in Maidenhead

23 year-old Sai-mah Ali died following a house fire in Moor Lane, Maidenhead, during a family gathering in Maidenhead in the early hours of Friday 25 June 2010.during a family gathering in Maidenhead in June last year.

20 year old Amaar Najib of Wexham Road, Slough was found guilty at Reading Crown Court (4/2), following a five-week trial which began on 4 January. The jury returned a majority verdict of 10 to 2 on the charge of murder and a unanimous verdict on a second charge of arson with intent to endanger life.

The jury acquitted Kanwarpal Singh, aged 18, of Rochford Gardens, Slough, over charges of murder and arson with intent to endanger life aswell as Navera Ahmed, aged 18, of Rochford Gardens, Slough, who was found not guilty of all charges.

Crown Prosecution Service case lawyer, Luke Bulpitt told Heart: "This was a senseless act with tragic consequences, leaving a young woman dead and a family devastated. The meticulous investigation by the police and rigorous prosecution by the CPS means that the person responsible, Amaar Najib, has been brought before the courts and been found guilty by a jury of murder and arson with intent to endanger life. Two further defendants, Kanwarpal Singh and Navera Ahmed, were also brought before the courts; however, the jury has acquitted them, having heard all the evidence. We must respect the decision of the court."