A WOMAN charged after the death of a Worcester man in a flat blaze has been granted bail by a judge.

Sarah Martin, aged 26, of Rodborough Drive, Warndon, is accused of perverting the course of justice in the case of Andrew Heath.

Mr Heath, 52, died in a suspected arson attack at his home in Chedworth Drive, Warndon, on Christmas Eve last year.

Martin's brother Daniel Martin, 23, of Canterbury Road, Ronkswood, is charged with Mr Heath's murder and is remanded in custody.

Judge Robert Juckes QC granted Sarah Martin bail on condition she lives in a bail hostel in Birmingham and keeps to an electronically monitored overnight curfew.

She is also banned from entering Worcester and was ordered not to contact prosecution witnesses.

Her mother Teresa Martin, 44, of Rodborough Close, Warndon, was granted bail at an earlier date to an address outside Worcester. She is also accused of perverting justice.

Charged with a similar offence is Sarah Martin's partner, 28-year-old Matthew Davies, also of Rodborough Drive. He has been remanded in custody.

Sally Hancox, for Sarah Martin, told Worcester Crown Court that the bail hostel was a suitable address for the defendant, who is the mother of young children. 

She did not appear in court. Prosecutor Stephen Davies made no objection to bail. 

The trial, lasting up to five weeks, is due to take place next year but a start date has not yet been fixed.
Three more people have appeared before the city magistrates court charged in connection with the blaze death.

In October, three other men Marcus Taylor, aged 25, of Goldsmith Road, Brickfields, Thomas Barnes, 21, of Turners Close, Brickfields, and Gary Dayus, 26, of Oakridge Close, Warndon, were charged with conspiracy to intimidate witnesses in a murder inquiry.
They were remanded in custody at an earlier court hearing, until February 4, 2013.