A man died from “unsurvivable” burns after a “fizzing and smoking” fireworks box was pushed inside his home by intruders who kicked down the front door, an inquest heard.
Anthony Nicholls, 56, was forced to flee upstairs as the 210-shot commercial firework went off, where he became trapped and sustained severe burns and injuries linked to smoke inhalation.
He was rushed to hospital after being pulled from a window by firefighters, but died five days later from his injuries.
Mr Nicholls’ 50-year-old wife Maria Jones was with him at the time of the attack, and broke her leg when she jumped from a first-floor window to escape the fireworks. She has since died from a cause unrelated to the fire.
Criminal damage had been caused to the victim’s house two days before on 2 November 2017, the inquest heard.
Detective Sergeant James Herring told the inquest three people were seen on CCTV heading towards and away from Mr Nicholls’ home in Birchtrees Drive, Birmingham.
One of them was carrying a large item to the home. Relating accounts given to police by Ms Jones, he said: “Both Tony Nicholls and Maria Jones were sitting down in the living room eating a meal. A large firework was slid along the hallway.”
Mr Herring added the firework box was “fizzing and smoking” as it stopped at Mr Nicholls’ feet and set “curtains and other items alight” when it went off, reported Birmingham Live.
West Midlands Police are treating Mr Nicholls’ death as a murder and six people who were previously arrested and released are still under investigation.
“It remains a live investigation and we are still actively seeking those involved in the murder,” said Mr Herring.
The victim’s daughter, Fiona, said in a statement read out to the inquest: “My dad was a kind, caring and funny man whose life was cut short by this wicked act.
“They have not only stolen my dad’s future but they have stolen mine as well.”
