An Inverness man accused of setting fire to a kitchen walked free from court yesterday after a jury returned a majority not proven verdict.
Paul Burns, of Winmar Guest House, Kenneth Street, was acquitted following a three day trial at the city’s sheriff court.
The 35-year-old had denied endangering lives by switching on a cooker at 5 Juniper Gardens, Inverness, on April 8, 2013.
Burns was alleged to have caused a fire to break out among papers and a plastic washing basket sitting on the hob.
Occupants Claire Kirkham and Brian Denny told the court they successfully extinguished the blaze using wet children’s clothing.
Ms Kirkham insisted Burns had turned on the cooker knobs deliberately as she tried to remove him from her house.
However, Burns’ defence counsel Bill Adam argued that they could have switched to the “on” position accidentally during the struggle.
The jury took less than two hours to return their verdict.
The court was told Burns had gone to the property to use Ms Kirkham’s phone to check on a delivery of alcohol he had ordered from Asda.
When he overstayed his welcome Ms Kirkham tried to make him leave and during the struggle in the kitchen the cooker switches were turned on.
Mr Denny was then called to eject Burns from the property.