A WOMAN and man who threw petrol over a man and set him on fire are facing years in jail after being convicted of attempted murder.
Jane Reilly stood stoney-faced, while Alan Archer looked exasperated and in disbelief as the jury of six men and women read out their verdicts.
The duo had denied attempting to murder the victim in Southchurch Avenue, Southend on October 30 last year. CCTV of the incident showed Reilly and Archer luring the man outside before dousing him with petrol and setting him on fire.
The CCTV showed a fireball erupt as the man caught fire shortly after 1am after the five-litre petrol can was poured over him.
Reilly, 53, of Trowbridge Road, Harold Hill, and Archer, 33, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff, always admitted being at the scene but denied trying to kill the man.
Reilly and Archer did not give evidence in the trial.
Following two days of deliberations, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts at Basildon Crown Court.
As the verdicts were read out, Reilly, wearing a face mask, did not react, staring blankly at the jury foreman before swiftly departing the dock.
Archer, also wearing a face mask, did not immediately react, but looked around the court room looking exasperated before leaving the court room.
Their victim suffered burns to 60 per cent of his body and requires long-term treatment to overcome the physical and mental effects of the attack.
The jury was previously told that the incident stemmed from a dispute about the theft of a £4 watch.
Judge Samantha Leigh asked the jury if they had reached unanimous verdicts on the two other defendants accused of attempted murder – Paul Bruns, 53, of York Road, Southend, and Ben Ince, 41, of no fixed address.
The jury said they had reached majority verdicts on Bruns and Ince, but not unanimous, and the judge asked them to retire once again to reach verdicts that at least ten of them agreed.
However, by the end of the day, the jury had not returned verdicts.
The judge told them: “It’s been a long day, so I’m going to discharge the jury bailiffs, no more discussions now.
“I will see you all in the morning.”
Archer and Reilly will not be sentenced until verdicts are reached on the other two men.
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