Man's ear found in fire victim's pocket

Two burnt bodies found in Orpington were those of a murdered father and the killer who had beaten him to death, cut off his ear and then got caught by the fire he started to destroy the evidence, family sources say.

The daughter of Norman Hawkins, 59, said her father was bludgeoned to death by Lee Scamp, 21, who died of smoke inhalation after trying to destroy evidence of the attack by fire.

She said Mr Hawkins, who was deaf and had throat cancer, was beaten so severely that all the bones in his face and his ribs were broken in his home in Croxley Green, St Paul's Cray.

Scamp piled furniture on top of his victim and set fire to it, it is also claimed by a member of Mr Hawkins' family.

However, it appears he was caught in the fire and died at the scene of smoke inhalation.

Mr Hawkins' ear, which had been cut off, was found by police in Scamp's pocket, they added.