[guide.chat] a man been arrested for the gas blast
- From: "Carol O'Connor" <missbossyboots33@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "guide chat" <guide.chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:06:36 +0100
A man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the death of
two-year-old Jamie Heaton in the Oldham gas blast.
The 32-year-old was being quizzed by detectives last night.
Police confirmed the arrest but declined to give any further details. Sources
said it was a 'complex inquiry' that was likely to continue for some time.
It is understood the arrested man was unconnected to Andrew Partington, the
27-year-old whose home on Buckley Street was at the epicentre of the blast. Mr
Partington suffered terrible burns in the explosion and last night remained in
a 'critical but stable' condition at Wythenshawe Hospital.
Police are at the hospital and want to ask him about what happened when he
recovers.
The dramatic twist followed a day in which the devastated community of Shaw had
battled to come to terms with the aftermath of Tuesday's explosion.
Four houses were flattened and little Jamie died after being buried under the
rubble.
Tributes continued to flood in for the tot - while residents of around 175
houses within the evacuation zone learned it could be weeks before they were
allowed home.
Detectives from the Major Incident Team of Greater Manchester Police confirmed
they had launched a homicide investigation - which can include murder or
manslaughter charges. Police were yesterday examining wreckage in Buckley
Street, which has been declared a crime scene.
Jamie had been watching TV when the blast - believed to have emanated from Mr
Partington's house next door - ripped through his home at 11.15am.
His mother Michelle, who escaped the worst of the blast as she was hanging the
washing outside, tried in vain to get to her son. Neighbours reported a smell
of gas just 35 minutes before the devastating explosion.
Mr Partington's partner, Tanya Williams, is believed to have recently left the
rented home with the couple's five children.
The landlord of the property, Iltaf Hussain, told reporters a new boiler had
been fitted in the last few weeks.
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood, who was born in Oldham, compared the
scene to the aftermath of a bomb.
He said: "A homicide investigation is underway.
"We have a significant number of people we want to interview.
"I need to stress that we do not know the cause of the explosion.
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