by Dan Bloom

dbloom@thekmgroup.co.uk

A Maidstone nightclub bouncer will not give evidence to defend himself against allegations he started a fire which killed a mum, her toddler son and her father.

Farhad Mahmud, 35, declined to take the stand today in the Chatham Hill murder trial.

His co-accused, the victim's estranged husband Danai Muhammadi, spent six intense days giving evidence in which he was branded a "complete fantasist" by prosecutors.

Mahmud's barrister Ian Glen QC covered his entire defence case this morning in less than ten minutes.

The court heard Mahmud, of Fernhill Road, Maidstone, was "very hands-on, always hugging people" and "wouldn't hurt a fly".

He worked at nightclub Babylon in King Street. Doorman Ben Painter and his girlfriend Cathleen Chambers saw him on the night of Saturday, September 10, almost 24 hours after the fatal fire in Chatham Hill.

Mr Painter told police: "He had worked at Babylon in the past and I would describe him as a reliable, nice guy. [That night] he seemed his usual happy self."

Ms Chambers added: "We asked each other how we were and he told me he was fine and well.

"I was very shocked to hear Freddie had anything to do with this as he would not hurt a fly."

The fire claimed the lives of 20-year-old Melissa Crook and her 15-month-old son, Noah (pictured above).

Melissa's 49-year-old father, Mark, a Maidstone warehouse manager escaped the house, but died of his burns six days later.

Muhammadi, 24, of Britannia Street, Coventry; Mahmud, 35, of Fernhill Road, Maidstone and Emma Smith, 21, of Barley Lea, Coventry, deny three counts of murder and two of attempted murder.

The trial continues.