The Cwmbran triple murder trial yesterday heard evidence from police officers who arrested accused Carl Mills and neighbours who witnessed the fatal blaze. Crime reporter NATALIE CROCKETT was in court.

A MAN who denies killing three generations of the same family in a house fire told the officer who arrested him on suspicion of murder: “I didn’t do nowt”.

Carl Mills, 28, was arrested in the garden of 15 Tillsland, Coed Eva, Cwmbran in the early hours of September 18 as firefighters tackled the blaze that swept through the home at around 3.30am.

Mills appeared calm as the fire raged said a police officer who found him at the scene.

Kim Buckley, 46, her daughter Kayleigh, 17, and six-month-old granddaughter Kimberley, all died in the blaze, which fire investigators said was deliberately set in the porch.

Mills, who was Kayleigh’s boyfriend and Kimberley’s dad, was originally held on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

He was taken to Ystrad Mynach Police Station where he was searched, medically examined and skin swabs were taken. But when officers realised there were fatalities, he was rearrested on suspicion of murder at around 11.09am. DS Stuart Crocker told Newport Crown Court he read Mills his rights, to which Mills replied: “I didn’t do nowt. I was trying to get in through the back door. The police arrested me because they thought I done it.”

DS Crocker said he did not notice anything particularly unusual about Mills’ behaviour and he seemed just like any other detainee.

The jury also heard evidence from police officers who attended the scene of the fire that morning.

PC David Solomon was present when Mills was first arrested.

The jury heard Mills was put in a police car and asked: “What have I done?” He then went on to punch the windowof the car, with PC Solomon describing his mood as “agitated”.

Earlier he was searched and officers seized a wallet, three mobile phones, a tin containing rolling tobacco, filter paper and a lighter.

During this time PC Solomon claims Mills told him his girlfriend was in a different house to the one which was burning. PC Natasha Counsell, arrived at the scene and was immediately told by a neighbour that a mum and two girls were inside the house.

The fire was raging so she was shocked to see Mills in the garden and was concerned for his safety as there were small explosions coming from the house, the jury heard. She said: “I askedhimwhat he was doing. He told me what his name was and that his girlfriend and baby was inside.

“He appeared calm, he was just talking to me as if he was talking about the weather. He didn’t appear concerned at all.”

PC Counsell said she smelled intoxicants on Mills’ breath and he was swaying from side to side.

She was suspicious of his behaviour, she said, and tried to get more information out of him but he did not answer any more of her questions.

Patrick Harrington QC, defending Mills, said the fire scene was a “chaotic” one with lots of noise and said PC Counsell had no way of knowing whether Mills heard her questioning or not.

Proceeding.