Police attended home where grandson started fire

Vera Croghan, a former lecturer at the University of East Anglia, died in a fire after her home was deliberately torched by her grandson

Police attended the home of a woman just hours before she was killed in a fire started at the property by her grandson, an inquest has heard.

Vera Croghan, 89, died after her home in Norwich was set alight on 11 December 2020 by Chanatorn Croghan.

In 2022, the 21-year-old, known to the family as Marko, admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility, and arson, and was given an indefinite hospital order under the Mental Health Act.

Norwich Coroner's Court has now heard that Norfolk Police had been called to the property in May 2020 after Mrs Croghan's son Richard reported he had been attacked by his son, who was then 19 years old.

Following the fire Mrs Croghan was found dead in an upstairs bedroom.

The inquest heard a written statement from Sgt Joanna McCormack who said she had previously attended the property in May 2020, having been called out by Richard Croghan.

'Pure aggression'

Richard Croghan told the inquest he was the last person to see his mother alive.

Prior to the fatal fire, he said he received "strange" phone calls from his son.

He said he had been behaving "irrationally" at Manchester University, repeatedly saying he wanted to change course, and that he might return to Norwich.

On the evening of 9 December 2020, Marko turned up at Mrs Croghan's Norwich home, where his father was also staying, with his partner.

The following day Richard Croghan thought his son "suddenly had a serious mental health collapse".

He wanted to use his dad's phone as his did not have any charge.

Richard's offer to lend him his charger led to a row.

"Pure aggression came out," Mr Croghan said.

He described it "like talking to someone who wanted to kill you".

'Like a psychopath'

Mr Croghan said he called 999 and officers arrived after midnight.

He said his son's behaviour was similar to that displayed in May that year.

He said while Marko "wasn’t physical" he created a sense of fear "like a psychopath".

"I wanted him out the house," he said.

Mr Croghan said he was "extremely surprised" when the police decided his son was stable.

"I told the police he could fool a doctor," he said.

He and his partner decided to leave the house.

Although his mother was still asleep upstairs, he said Marko had "never shown no aggression to her, only me".

"I know Marko, his demeanour was to go for me not anyone else," he said.

It was upon turning his mobile phone on in the morning that he received alerts from the house's fire alarm.

The inquest is due to last for several days.