Man faces court over death of girl, 6, in house fire
A man accused of the murder of a six-year-old girl in a house fire will appear in court today after being extradited to the UK from South Africa.
George Champion Sithole, of no fixed address, has also been charged with arson with intent to endanger life and with arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Dumo Sibanda died after a fire at her home in Banks Road, Pound Hill, Crawley, West Sussex, on October 26, 2004.
Members of her family escaped the blaze but the girl was found inside the house. She was taken to hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
Sithole was arrested in South Africa in March last year and the extradition request was subsequently lodged.
The request was agreed at a court hearing in Johannesburg on February 4 this year.
He will appear at Crawley Magistrates' Court later, a spokeswoman for Sussex Police said.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick May, of the force's major crime branch, said: "Sussex Police are grateful for the help and co-operation that we have received from the South African authorities in returning Mr Sithole to the UK."
