Riots in brief: Man accused of furniture store blaze faces court; fifth man charged over murders; oldest suspect let off with caution

A man accused of starting the blaze that consumed a furniture store in south London was remanded in custody yesterday following a seven-minute hearing.

Gordon Edward Thompson, 33, is accused of setting fire to House of Reeves in his home town of Croydon on 8 August and appeared at Inner London Crown Court. He is charged with two counts of arson, violent disorder and two counts of burglary. He will return to the same court on 26 September for an appeal and case management hearing.

Fifth man charged over murders

A man has appeared in court in connection with the murders of three men who were killed as they tried to protect homes and shops from looters.

Liam Young, 28, from Winson Green, Birmingham, was remanded in custody in Birmingham following a brief hearing, a court official said. Young, of Bryant Street, is charged with perverting the course of justice.

He is the fifth man to be charged by detectives investigating the murders of Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31. The three men were hit by a car on 10 August during riots in Winson Green.

Ian Beckford, 30, Joshua Donald, 26, Adam King, 23, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named have already been charged with murder. A 33-year-old arrested by police on Friday was released a day later on police bail. Three other males – aged 17, 23 and 32 – have also been arrested and bailed pending further inquiries.

Young will appear for a preliminary hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on 30 August.

Oldest suspect let off with caution

A 70-year-old man from Ealing was the oldest person arrested for rioting, Scotland Yard has confirmed. The pensioner, who has not been named, was let off with a caution after he admitted to stealing from a branch of Sainsbury's on 8 August.