A MAN accused of the murder of three generations of the same family told police he first became aware of the fire when he saw smoke while sat on a nearby wall.

In police interviews read out in court, Carl Mills denied being responsible for the deaths of his girlfriend Kayleigh Buckley, their baby daughter Kimberley Buckley and Kayleigh's mum Kim Buckley and denied being responsible for the arson of their home.

He said at the time of the incident, he had been sat on a wall near the Mill Tavern pub when he had seen smoke and had heard shouting and screaming.

He said that after going to see what was happening, he saw flames and began to "run down then".

Mills, 28, of no fixed abode, is charged with the murder of Kim Buckley, 46, her daughter Kayleigh, 17, and granddaughter Kimberley, six months.

They all died when a fire ripped through their home in Tillsland, Coed Eva, Cwmbran, on September 18, 2012.

Mills denies the charges.

Detective Constable John Crandon read out the police interview script in court with junior prosecution barrister Tom Crowther QC.

In a police interview held on September 18, Mills said that after arriving near the house he asked a neighbour what had happened.

Mills said he told the neighbour, Kayleigh and the baby were in there and then told this to the fire brigade and pointed out the bedrooms.

Mills said he had then ran round to the back of the house to see if the back door was open.

He said: "It was locked. I kicked it.

He added: I just walked out then"

Mills said as he walked away, it was then that he saw police who took him to a police car.

Mills, who said he was "in shock"at the scene said his hands were blackened when police found him because he had been picking up cigarettes while in town the evening before the fire.

Mills, who told police Kayleigh had an engagement ring which he had bought her, said he had met up with the teenage mum the evening before the fire and that they had been talking about the future and baby Kimberley.

Proceeding.