A 23-year-old man from Woodford Green, north-east London, faces five charges of arson
A City of London employee has been charged with arson after a fire at a golf course clubhouse meant to be used as a homeless shelter became a charity fundraiser.
The fire, which began at the 45 Woodward lodge golf course clubhouse in Harmondsworth Heath last month, spread to surrounding buildings.
Veejay John Pizzuti, a 26-year-old youth worker and club member from Woodford Green, north-east London, has also been charged with the manslaughter of three homeless men in north London between March and November last year, Metropolitan police said.
Metropolitan police said: “The 55-year-old man died from smoke inhalation, 52-year-old man died from multiple injuries, and 69-year-old man died from smoke inhalation.”
A spokesperson for the Met said a 23-year-old man from Woodford Green had been charged with two counts of arson with intent to endanger life.
He was also charged with arson with intent to endanger life contrary to section 3A of the Firearm Act 1873 and battery, with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
The DJ said Pizzuti had also been charged with theft under £10,000, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and drugs offences.
A Met spokesperson said a 25-year-old man from Walthamstow, north-east London, had been charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life contrary to section 3A of the Firearm Act 1873.
A 31-year-old man from Enfield, north-east London, had been charged with two counts of theft under £10,000, and a 39-year-old man from the Brent area had been charged with three counts of possession of class A drugs.
The spokesman said they did not know whether Pizzuti would appear in court on Thursday and said there would be no further comment at this stage.
The five charges have been updated to reflect the progress of the investigation following an examination of fingerprints, DNA samples and forensics.
The Department for Work and Pensions announced in April it was providing funding for a £2m new housing solution centre for homeless and vulnerable people in London, less than a year after its relocation from Canning Town.
The business department said it was “disappointed” by the fire. It was thought that Pizzuti set fire to some charity shops because he wanted to raise money for the golf course.