Newark woman murdered in fire for inheritance, court hears

The fire took place at a property in Eton Court, Newark in December 2021

A woman accused of murder let herself into her disabled mother-in-law's home and set fire to her bed, a court heard.

Elizabeth Vamplew, 77, died from burns and smoke inhalation after she was rescued from her home in Eton Court, Newark, Nottinghamshire, on 15 December 2021.

Karen Vamplew is accused of lighting her bed in a bid to get inheritance money.

A trial at Leicester Crown Court is expected to last four weeks.

Jurors heard the 43-year-old was in debt and had been using her mother-in-law's bank account to fund her lifestyle.

The day before the fire, the pair were seen in a Santander bank after a £5 limit had been placed on the account, the court was told.

The court heard the defendant was seen on CCTV leaving her home in King Street, Newark, at about 00:35 GMT on the day of the fire.

'Naked flame'

She was seen parking nearby, but not outside Elizabeth's home, wearing a hoodie.

Returning 30 minutes later, Karen was seen on CCTV running to her car at 01:13 before heading home, the jury heard.

Four minutes after returning home, she again got into her car and drove back to the Eton Court area before reporting the fire at 01:25, the court heard.

During the first day of the trial, prosecutors accused Karen of setting fire to her mother-in-law's bed while she was asleep.

They told the jury the defendant had a key and an access code for the home as well as a copy of Elizabeth's will at her home.

Elizabeth was known to smoke inside her property. However, the court heard an investigation found the fire was caused by a "naked flame" at the bottom of the bed rather than a dropped cigarette.

The trial continues.