'Controlling' Husband Kills Wife By Setting Her Ablaze After Pouring Gasoline Over Her Head

A "controlling" husband has been accused of killing his estranged wife by pouring gasoline over her head and setting her ablaze in her bedroom in Alric Avenue, Brent, North-West London.

Damien Simmons, 44, allegedly broke into 36-year-old Denise Keane-Simmons' house in Alric Avenue, Harlesden, and proceeded to pour gasoline over her and set her and her house ablaze on April 16, 2020, the Daily Mail reported.

Denise was later found in her bedroom with 60 percent burns on her body and reportedly suffered a fatal brain injury from lack of oxygen. She shortly succumbed to her serious injuries in a hospital in the early morning of April 16, 2020.

Simmons reportedly first denied murdering his wife and claimed that he meant to burn himself to death in front of her "so that she would have to watch him die." Simmons has since pleaded guilty to manslaughter, MyLondon reported.

A few hours before the horrific murder, Simmons reportedly posted nude pictures of Denise on Instagram, along with her maiden name, job, and the school where she worked. Simmons also emailed Denise telling her that he had also uploaded her nude pictures on the porn website PornHub as well.

"I hope you suffer and die just like how I suffer and die before I go," he said in a voice message he sent her two hours before the murder.

A few months before the incident, Simmons was accused of planting a hidden camera in a lightbulb in the victim's bedroom to spy on her as well as record her conversations.

When investigators looked into Simmons' internet history, they reportedly found that he had searched “what is the best way to use a knife and kill someone?” as well as viewed pages relating to how a defense of insanity would work in English law.

Simmons, who was reportedly found unconscious in the back garden of the property, was resuscitated by emergency services and was later charged with murder.

Simmons reportedly married Denise in Trinidad and Tobago in June 2019 but started having problems after Denise's mother disapproved of him when they returned to the U.K.

Simmons reportedly became “aggressive” and “intimidating” towards his wife in January 2020, physically dragging her and grabbing her by the wrists, Debbie Debreo, Denise's friend, said. Denise reportedly changed the locks to her home following the incident.

Simmons was reportedly captured on CCTV surveillance footage at a gas station buying a can and filling it with 5.5 liters of gasoline before the incident.

“The nature and the pattern” of the burns to her body had been analyzed and the analysis suggested she had been set alight, according to the court. A fire expert told the court that gasoline was found throughout the house and damage to Simmons' clothing did not suggest he had poured gasoline over himself in an attempt at suicide, according to Yahoo News.

The trial on the incident continues. Simmons is currently standing trial at the Old Bailey.