Estranged husband of Eddy Grant's niece 'told friend he wanted to let her suffer before he burned her alive', court hears

Mrs Keane-Simmons, a teaching assistant whose mother was married to the Electric Avenue musician's brother, was found on her bedroom floor 

The estranged husband of Eddy Grant's niece told a friend how he wanted to 'let her suffer' just hours before he burned her to death, a court heard.

Damion Simmons, 45, had posted sexual photographs of Denise Keane-Simmons, 36, before he broke into her house in Harlseden to pour petrol over her and set her ablaze on April 16 last year, the Old Bailey has heard.

Mrs Keane-Simmons, a teaching assistant whose mother was married to the Electric Avenue musician's brother, was found on her bedroom floor. She was rushed to hospital but later died from burn injuries and inhalation of fumes.

Simmons, a plumber, was found in the garden and had also suffered burns in the fire.

He has admitted killing Mrs Keane-Simmons and disclosing private sexual photographs of her, but claims she died accidentally when he was trying to kill himself in front of her.

The court has heard that Simmons revealed in a text message that pictures of Mrs Keane-Simmons were on Instagram and he had told a friend: 'Let her suffer like I did and feel humiliated like I do'.  

In a statement read to the court a friend of the couple, Jason Bruce, said he had been contacted by Simmons when was on holiday in Trinidad asking him to help patch up his relationship.

He then received an anonymous message which he believed came from Simmons.

The message stated: 'He didn't deserve what they did to his marriage. He loved that woman and he was dealing with what was happening.

Forensics at the scene of the fire in Brent, North West London, in April 2020

'Just to let you know this man is thinking of killing himself because he lost everything.

'I'm working with him to deal with things but I feel you all need to know what really happened.

'If you're his friend please talk to him and his wife. I am reaching out to people who he says are good friends.'

Mr Bruce texted back asking who it was, but did not get a reply.

'I think this message was from Damion, trying to get me to help him with his marriage,' he said.

The Old Bailey heard Simmons broke into her home, poured petrol over her before setting it alight. Pictured, a charred building with a broken front door following the fire

Mr Bruce said he tried to tell Simmons to move on from the relationship but he could not accept it was over.

'He kept messaging saying he was thinking of killing himself and that things weren't good,' said Mr Bruce.

'I thought this was a cry for help. I did not believe he would make an attempt on his life.'

Simmons insisted he had 'never raised a hand to his wife.'

'He appeared to be in denial about the break-up and did not understand why it was happening,' said Mr Bruce.

Hours before the fire ripped through the terraced house on April 16 last year, Mr Bruce sent a message to Simmons asking how he was.

'He texted back asking why I was asking and said that he was suffering,' said Mr Bruce. 'I asked him what he meant and he said: ''I'm good, just waiting to die like everybody else.''

'He went to refer to Denise and that she and everyone else could enjoy my death in the morning. I asked what he meant and he said: ''You can see all her pictures on UK Porn.''

He added: 'Let her suffer like I did and feel humiliated like I do. Tell her it's on IG - Instagram now. Sorry buddy, I tried.'

Another friend, Brendan Heath, spoke to Mrs Keane-Simmons on the phone hours before she died.

She was upset Simmons was posting naked pictures of her on Instagram and calling her friends and harassing her, the court was told.

Mr Heath spoke to Simmons and asked him why he had posed the pictures.

He told him in a low voice 'Don't worry about that. Let them enjoy themselves' before the line went dead, the court heard. 

Eddy Grant was a founding member of The Equals and had a successful solo career with the hit single Electric Avenue

Mr Heath was then unable to contact Simmons and never spoke to him again.

He said Simmons' WhatsApp status read: 'Let me die in peace. I need to go. It's not what I wanted. Do not call me.'

Simmons was caught on CCTV leaving a north London address he'd been staying at before stopping at a petrol station to be a petrol can and fill it with 5.5 litres of petrol.

He was then recorded taking a bus to Harlesden before lingering outside his wife's home.

The victim was being spoken to by police about the pictures of her naked in the bath and he hid in the garden.

When they had gone he poured some petrol through the letter box then smashed a front room window and climbed in.

Seconds later he started the fire after pouring petrol over his wife's head.

Family friend Maureen Lalgie managed to escape the flames and Simmons was found badly burned in the back garden.

Ms Keane-Simmons was a year one teaching assistant at Pakeman Primary School in Holloway.

Simmons, of no fixed address, denies murder, voyeurism and arson with intent to endanger life.

He has admitted manslaughter and disclosing private sexual photographs of the teaching assistant with intent to cause distress.

The victim met Simmons in Trinidad and married him there in 2019 before the two of them moved to the UK.

The trial continues.