Regina v. Serné
Central Criminal Court
16 Cox Crim. Cas. 311 (1887)
Relevant factsFree
Leon Serné (defendant), who was penniless, and his employee John Goldfinch (defendant) set fire to Serné's home and attached shop to collect insurance money while Serné's wife, four children, and Goldfinch were all inside. Witnesses saw multiple fires break out simultaneously near where Serné and Goldfinch had just been. Serné, his wife, and daughters escaped to the roof and were rescued, and Goldfinch was rescued from a window, but Serné's two sons died in the fire.
IssueFree
Whether committing a felonious act known to be dangerous to life and likely to cause death, resulting in death, constitutes murder.