Westminster arsonist, who killed Croydon friend, confesses 20 years later

A 50-year-old man has been jailed after walking into a police station and confessing to killing his friend in a flat fire 20 years ago.

Richard Curtin, 50, of Great Peter Street, within yards of the House of Commons, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey today, Friday, 9 March, to the manslaughter of Paul Smith.

He was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment at the same hearing.

Mr Smith, who was aged 38 at the time of his death, died following a fire at the address he was staying at with Curtin in Violet Lane, Croydon in the early hours of 6 October 1996.

Initial investigations confirmed that the fire had been started deliberately.

Curtin was initially arrested, following a police investigation, but it was deemed there was insufficient evidence to charge him.

Over 20 years later, on 24 October 2017, Curtin contacted police stating he wanted to confess to killing Paul Smith.

He was arrested and charged the following day.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding of the Homicide and Major Crime Command said:

“It is over 20 years since Richard Curtin started the fire which resulted in the death of Paul Smith; a significant period of time in which Paul’s family have been denied knowing the truth about what happened to him.

“I can only hope Curtin’s admission of guilt provides some form of closure for them.”
Peter Smith was found slumped outside his burning flat in 1996.
Police were called to the burning 10th floor of the block in Violent Lane, Waddon in the early hours of Sunday, October 6, 1996.