Man Accused Of Trying To Set Wife's Home On Fire To Stand Trial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A 14-year-old boy took the stand Friday against his father who is accused of setting fire to his estranged wife's home in Brookline last month.
Dennis King will now stand trial on charges that he started fires inside his wife's home while four children were inside.
The teenager was one of those children, and took the stand telling the court he heard his parents arguing before King allegedly spread gasoline around the house and set fires with newspapers.
King's estranged wife, Heather O'Rourke, has a protection from abuse order against him.
She called 911 after he came over saying he was there to cut the grass. At the time, King's 14-year-old son along with and 11-year-old brother, a 7-year-old brother and a 4-year-old sister were all in the house.
King's son testified that after the gasoline was spread, his father turned on the gas stove and tried to burn newspaper and then left the stove running.
King's estranged wife and all four children made it out safely.
When police arrived, newspaper was still burning in the front yard and a police officer turned the stove off.
King had left the home, but was arrested later.
He says the children's mother pushed him, causing him to spill gasoline inside the house.
However, an officer testified that the beds upstairs had been saturated with gasoline.
King faces trial on numerous counts, including arson, criminal attempted homicide and endangering the welfare of children.
He remains locked up at the Allegheny County Jail on $250,000 bond.
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Man Accused Of Setting Wife's Home On Fire Facing Charges (6/14/13)
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