A BUSINESSMAN accused of starting a fire that endangered people’s lives sent abusive messages to his wife after believing she was having an affair, a jury heard.

Martin Nganga is accused of pouring petrol into the hallway of a house in Mallard Close and causing a blaze at the property on January 29 last year.

One of the residents of the house was Peter Kiriamburi, who was Nganga’s best man, and prosecutors told a jury at Oxford Crown Court he was the intended target of the alleged arson.

The court heard on Thursday how Nganga, 46, believed his wife Lilian Kibunja was having an affair with Mr Kiriamburi, whom he had first met in Kenya in 1999.

Yesterday, Ms Kibunja spoke via video link and said the relationship only began after she had separated from Nganga and moved out of the family home in 2012.

She said she had become “romantic” with Mr Kiriamburi the following year, during which time she claimed they both received “abusive messages” from Nganga.

During cross-examination, defence barrister Siobhan Grey said: “I suggest your relationship [with Nganga] was not a balanced one. He loved you and you used him. He was besotted with you.

“You have conveniently used this fire at Mr Kiriamburi’s house to point the finger of blame at Martin [Nganga] because you want him out of your life for good.”

Ms Kibunja replied: “That’s not true.”

The court heard how up to two litres of petrol were used to start the fire at the Blackbird Leys house. The occupants had to jump for their lives to escape the flames.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue officer Donald Crook said he thought between 1.5 and 2 litres of “accelerant” had been set alight at the house and 14 firefighters were needed to completely extinguish the blaze.

He added there was a “petrol-type smell” after pulling up a piece of carpet from within the hallway.

During cross-examination, Ms Grey said: “What we can say is that the fire started in the hallway. What we cannot say is, whoever started that fire, whether the person was inside the property or outside the property.”

Mr Crook replied: “No.”

The trial continues. Nganga, of Tiverton in Devon, denies arson with intent to endanger life.