by Dan Bloom

A triple murder suspect claimed he was ordered to pay £5,000 to stop mystery men burning down his wife’s house.

Danai Muhammadi gave shock evidence today as he denied killing his wife Melissa Crook, son Noah and father-in-law Mark in a fire which ripped through their Chatham home.

Prosecutors claim he sprayed petrol through the letterbox in “spite, anger and resentment” after the marriage broke down.

But he said he was blackmailed.

The 24-year-old said a handwritten letter arrived through the post in a brown envelope a week before the fire on September 10.

The letter, which allegedly followed three phone calls, said “serious things will happen” if the money was not paid the next Friday - the night of the fire.

He said it told him: “This is not a game. Bring the money with you and don’t lose this chance, otherwise serious things will happen and you will be responsible for it.”

It had three options, he said. Either his son Noah would be kidnapped, or his in-laws’ house or car would be set alight.

But he could not show the letter to the court - saying he gave it to his wife.

Mark Crook (left), his daughter Melissa and her toddler son Noah were killed in a house fire

Melissa Crook, who had left Muhammadi in March but still saw him regularly, allegedly took the letter when they met in London that week.

She died and many possessions were destroyed in the blaze at 210 Chatham Hill.

Muhammadi told a jury at Maidstone Crown Court: “She advised me to go and see them [the blackmailers] because I was frightened, I was anxious for my son.

"I was begging her to alert the police but she didn’t want that.”

He added: “She said ‘we want to be sure whether they just want to frighten you.’”

He claimed they agreed to meet in nearby Milton Road, Gillingham, at 2am on the night of the fire.

Muhammadi contacted his old friend, Maidstone nightclub bouncer Farhad Mahmud, who came “simply as a support”, he said.

“I explained to him that there had been phone calls and letters and he was prepared to come,” he added.

But prosecutors allege Muhammadi paid his friend to help him set the fire.
Muhammadi is due to finish the story by saying what happened on the night itself in tomorrow’s evidence.

He claimed he discussed the letter and three anonymous phone calls with Melissa before “destiny” intervened.

Of the first phone call, he said: “I was at work and a number was withheld. I answered the call, he said ‘Hello is it Sammy’, I said yes, he said ‘I know you are Melissa’s husband and the little boy’s dad, I just want to tell you I saw them yesterday evening.’”

The man refused to elaborate and hung up, Muhammadi said - but called twice more and claimed Melissa and Noah were in hospital after a car fire.

Police at the scene of the house fire in Chatham Hill

Muhammadi rang Melissa, who he claimed told him: “You made it up and anything that happens, you will be responsible.”

He said he replied, in tears: “When did you see me crying before you?”

Muhammadi, of Britannia Street, Coventry, Mahmud, 35, of Fernhill Road, Maidstone, and Emma Smith, 21, of Barley Lea, Coventry, deny three murders and two attempted murders.

The trial continues.

More coverage in the Medway Messenger, out tomorrow and Monday.