Testimony from Behailu Kebede and other residents of Flat 16 describing the outbreak of the fire, including the 999 calls, the condition of the fridge-freezer, and the sequence of events on the night of 14 June 2017.
00:00:09 good morning welcome to today's hearing and invite mr. minute to take them out of forward from here yes sir thank you
00:00:22 of forward from here yes sir thank you very much mr. chairman good morning can only everybody what I'm going to do for the first part of today is to read aloud into the record certain aspects of the
00:00:35 into the record certain aspects of the evidence that we have in relation to flat 16 and then at the end I shall formally read by reference into the record the material that I don't intend to read aloud but should be taken as
00:00:47 to read aloud but should be taken as read into the record so that it will be available not only to the core participants but also to the public I'm going to start then if I may mr. chairman with mr. Kirby days first nine
00:01:00 chairman with mr. Kirby days first nine nine nine call which has been heard I think a number of times now through the experts and through me when I opened that but it's worth just going through once more I should just say before we
00:01:12 once more I should just say before we listen to it that the words that you hear in a non-english language have been established as having been spoken in Amharic and they've been translated for the purposes of the transcript and I
00:01:25 the purposes of the transcript and I will be showing you and reading the evidence from the translator after this but what I'm going to do now if I can is to play the I think by now familiar audio of the nine nine nine call that is
00:01:37 audio of the nine nine nine call that is the first one by mystic Abed a at 54:29 on the 14th of June with the with the transcript up on the screen next to it so if we can proceed with the audio file
00:01:49 so if we can proceed with the audio file and then scroll down through the transcript that I hope will work propagate yeah hello hi in the first finger it built all serene fire where
00:02:01 finger it built all serene fire where the sixteen green filter filter flat 16 and what's the pulse we have the WWN TG w 11 1 2 3 go
00:02:14 the WWN TG w 11 1 2 3 go yeah but kind of quick please yeah well you just I have to get the address okay cleanse for like 16 Greenfield WI 1 TG the fabricator on my way are you have
00:02:25 the fabricator on my way are you have your height yeah come on set yeah well the fire exits are on their way just tell me how many floors you got there it's a forceful right quick quick quick
00:02:38 yes I know it's burning but they are in my way you've only just a cold as long as you're okay yeah okay yes yeah tajen by the free side occupied solitude
00:02:50 tajen by the free side occupied solitude yes you wait outside I'm also a motel space okay so the fire engines are on the way they will be there soon okay okay you've only just
00:03:02 there soon okay okay you've only just called us so it will take a minute for them to get it yes okay can I let you go
00:03:24 them to get it yes okay can I let you go you are outside yeah okay right okay bye yeah thank you very much you look noticed mr. chairman that in the last 10
00:03:35 noticed mr. chairman that in the last 10 or so lines of the transcript there are words that you wouldn't have heard on the audio and I'll just take those from below the where the operator says yes okay query caller what made you come out
00:03:48 okay query caller what made you come out right now why you're out operator can I let you go operator hello caller inaudible grab it and leave just leave what kind of person is she
00:03:59 what kind of person is she hello what hello and then it continues in English to the end now that's the first of the items I want to read in the next item is the witness statement of
00:04:11 next item is the witness statement of the Amharic translator for that call which is met and I'll give the reference on relativities it's triple zero one to six
00:04:20 six for eight and the witness statement itself is signed by an F fram-o Getti date of the fifth of March 2018 and the
00:04:34 date of the fifth of March 2018 and the translator says I the above-named metropolitan amharic interpreter i was requested to listen to a phone call to the fire brigade which i was told it was recorded in english and amharic I was
00:04:47 recorded in english and amharic I was required to transcribe the Amharic and translated into English afterwards I produced the amharic transcription and the english translation of this as a
00:04:58 the english translation of this as a 13-3 i don't need to go to the transcription but I can read aloud into the record the translation and there are a number of sentences the first sentence
00:05:10 a number of sentences the first sentence is what made you come out right now the next is why you're out the next is inaudible grab it and leave the next is
00:05:21 inaudible grab it and leave the next is just hold it and go out what kind of person is she and there is then a a further statement which I don't need to read which forms
00:05:33 which I don't need to read which forms part of that translation evidence mr. chairman we then go to the second and third nine nine nine calls that mr.
00:05:45 third nine nine nine calls that mr. Coupet I made so far as the second is concerned it has now it has been displays but it has no evidential value it was a it looks like simply a an
00:05:57 it was a it looks like simply a an unconnected call the third though has a transcript and this is under reference document inquest reference triple zero
00:06:09 document inquest reference triple zero nine three six zeroes ninety four and I'd asked trial director please to play that to the inquiry whilst sharing the
00:06:20 that to the inquiry whilst sharing the transcript up at the same time and this is I should say timed at one o'clock and 21 seconds
00:06:31 and that's the transcript on the screen and if the trial director could kindly play the the audio I know you could 999
00:06:51 play the the audio I know you could 999 do you need to please hello hello you could 99 do you need the place no no it's the pilot the way we'll get to be here now so right okay it's worth sorry
00:07:04 hello hello do you need to play here nein nein nein no games he is loud I just like was were fired for this that's why
00:07:13 why okay you need to calm down a little bit so I could understand what you're saying to me I don't know what to think you could the place what's happening where you are no not it's not the police just the fire
00:07:26 no not it's not the police just the fire there's a fire yes a fire okay - here now okay now I don't need the police okay all right
00:07:34 thank you very much there are one or two aspects of that evidence which which are notable the first is that mr. Hobart a says in the fifth line of the transcript it's
00:07:45 fifth line of the transcript it's actually started in the fridge but you'll have seen mr. chairman and the other is that it appears we mean we may need to explore this further in evidence with the fire brigade that he is talking to somebody who is not the the not the
00:07:59 to somebody who is not the the not the police responder
00:08:06 and the next document and I just put me reminded by Miss Graeme's that the transcript says actually but the audio doesn't so whether that's the point we
00:08:17 doesn't so whether that's the point we need to explore further we may need to take further but I don't know so that that is a discrepancy I should perhaps in fairness point out the next document is the further witness statement of the
00:08:31 is the further witness statement of the amharic translator for that nine line call and it's dated the 21st of March 2018
00:08:38 2018 it's relativity reference is met triple zero one two six nine seven and I will just read this into the record it's
00:08:50 just read this into the record it's again it's an F from a Gertie and that translator says on the 21st of March 2018 I noticed one extra phrase spoken by mr. Cobb a day which was not included
00:09:03 by mr. Cobb a day which was not included in 13 - that's the first transcript we heard this morning and the phrase was just leave I therefore produce an amended version of this transcription in
00:09:15 amended version of this transcription in Amharic as EE 13/4 and the English translation as EE 13/5 both of which include these words I was then present when DC Nightingale inserted these
00:09:26 when DC Nightingale inserted these translated exchanges into the transcript of the entire call to ensure that they were put in the right place so mr. chairman that concludes the evidence in
00:09:37 chairman that concludes the evidence in relation to the 999 calls that I'd wish to read aloud into the record verbatim or partly verbatim can I next then turn to mr. kuberdas evidence to the inquiry
00:09:50 to mr. kuberdas evidence to the inquiry in written form I begin with his statement which is reference iws and
00:10:02 statement which is reference iws and then there are five zeros four nine zero that's the reference I WS five zeros for nine zero and it was provided very kindly by mr. Coupet aid in cooperation
00:10:14 kindly by mr. Coupet aid in cooperation with the Inc and it's been dated signed and dated the first of June 2018 under a statement of truth and I shall read it aloud down to
00:10:27 truth and I shall read it aloud down to paragraph 91 I should say that parts of it have been redacted and I shall obviously not be reading the redacted parts aloud my name is Mihaly o
00:10:39 redacted parts aloud my name is Mihaly o kabedon I lived in flat 16 on the fourth floor of Grenfell tower I believe that the fire on the 14th of June 2017 started in my kitchen in this statement
00:10:53 started in my kitchen in this statement I discussed various matters including my background rental tower my flat the night of the fire and my life since then
00:11:04 Ethiopia I was born on the 2nd of April 1973 in Addis Ababa the capital of Ethiopia my family are Orthodox
00:11:15 Ethiopia my family are Orthodox Christians my father was a lawyer he passed away in 1997 my mother was a civil servant she is retired now and still lives in Addis Ababa I was one of
00:11:28 still lives in Addis Ababa I was one of four siblings and the oldest boy in the family we were a Content middle-class family who enjoyed a good quality of life and did not want for anything I received my high school diploma and
00:11:41 I received my high school diploma and aspired to become a pilot I have extremely fond memories of my childhood
00:11:48 coming to the UK I came to the UK in 1990 I am now a British citizen in 1991
00:12:00 1990 I am now a British citizen in 1991 both my younger brothers joined me in the UK when they first arrived we all stayed together in a hostel however either applied to Kensington and Chelsea Council for accommodation about 25 years
00:12:14 Council for accommodation about 25 years ago I was offered flat 16 in Grenville tower I think this was in about 1992 living at Granville Tower
00:12:26 living at Granville Tower it is difficult to explain just how happy I was to move into flat 16 in Grenville tower with my younger brothers I was so great I was so grateful that we
00:12:38 I was so great I was so grateful that we were given accommodation this was our first real home in the UK I have so many wonderful memories of the three of us living there together my brothers were
00:12:50 living there together my brothers were still at school and I felt a sense of responsibility to look after them over the years I came to love the peaceful and friendly community at Grenfell tower
00:13:03 and friendly community at Grenfell tower lots of Ethiopians and eretrians lived in the building and I knew them all many were close friends it is customary in our culture to be hospitable and
00:13:15 in our culture to be hospitable and welcoming I was invited to many special occasions and events it was not just amongst the eat the Ethiopians and eretrians in the building that there
00:13:26 eretrians in the building that there were such strong bonds it was with everybody the building was a cosmopolitan and multi cultural melting pot with people from all over the world
00:13:37 pot with people from all over the world the gran felt our community was representative and symbolic of the local area around Ladbroke Grove and Portobello Road there were also lots of
00:13:49 Portobello Road there were also lots of local shops and businesses there were tube stations nearby we were on the path of the Notting Hill Carnival parade there was very little not to like about Granville Tower as far as I was
00:14:01 Granville Tower as far as I was concerned it was a truly special place it was spacious and beautifully lit with sunlight coming in from the big windows all around the flat friends who visited
00:14:13 all around the flat friends who visited me used to say that my flat was lovely in the early years I had various part-time jobs working in shops in 1996
00:14:24 part-time jobs working in shops in 1996 I obtained my driving license and started mini cab driving after my brothers completed their higher education the flat was becoming too small for all of
00:14:35 small for all of there was still a close bond between us but we believed that it would assist us for all of us if they got their own place so my brothers moved out of Granville tower in the late 1990s I
00:14:49 Granville tower in the late 1990s I think it was in the summer of 2015 that a friend told me about an Ethiopian lady called Elsa who had nowhere to stay I had a room and thought she could
00:15:01 had a room and thought she could contribute to the cost of the flats upkeep Elsa moved into one of the bedrooms in my flat she was still living there at the time of the fire I met al
00:15:13 there at the time of the fire I met al Mars who was also Ethiopian about three months or so before the fire I met her through another friend she had nowhere to stay so I agreed that she could move
00:15:24 to stay so I agreed that she could move into the second bedroom in my flat she also made a contribution to the cost of the flat upkeep after Alma's moved into the flat in early 2017 I initially slept
00:15:37 the flat in early 2017 I initially slept in the living room on a single mattress about a week before the fire I had bought a new double mattress I would estimate that I knew about half the residents of grenfell Tower very well I
00:15:49 residents of grenfell Tower very well I had so many friends in the building I saw families move in with their young children and watched how the children grew up into adults everyone at Grenfell tower was polite
00:16:01 everyone at Grenfell tower was polite and courteous refurbishment
00:16:08 before the refurbishment began at Grenfell tower in 2012 the internal layout of the building was different my flat was originally on what was the first floor
00:16:19 first floor however Kensington and Chelsea Council managed to build additional flats on the lower floors after the refurbishment my flat was on the fourth floor before the
00:16:30 flat was on the fourth floor before the refurbishment I had no issues at all with my flat or the building however after the refurbishment no one I knew was happy there were many complaints and many problems the residents were not
00:16:42 many problems the residents were not consulted all we were shown was a picture of how things may look once the work was completed as part of the refurbishment process new boilers were
00:16:53 refurbishment process new boilers were to be installed in all the flats however instead of removing the old boilers in the kitchens and replacing them with into the new boilers at the same locations it was decided that the new
00:17:04 locations it was decided that the new boilers should be placed near the front doors of the flats the reason for this we were told was that this was the cheaper option at least half of the residents complained I was part of that
00:17:15 residents complained I was part of that group I refused to have a new boiler installed in the hallway of my flat also gas pipes were installed in the communal corridors that were a potential risk to
00:17:26 corridors that were a potential risk to residents as well as making the corridors very narrow there were other issues although I did not personally experience electrical problems I heard that many others in the building did I
00:17:38 that many others in the building did I heard that this was due to power surges I heard about electrical appliances being damaged including fridges microwaves and laptops I heard that the council paid compensation to lots of
00:17:50 council paid compensation to lots of people in the building affected by such electrical problems the double glazed windows cause problems too as they had not been correctly fitted there were gaps in between the windows
00:18:02 there were gaps in between the windows and frames air was entering my flat through these gaps I made a direct complaint to the builders regarding this the council sent in contractors who I believe put sealant in the gaps
00:18:15 believe put sealant in the gaps but this did not fully solve the problem I remember meetings in the community hall next to Granville tower where there were only residents present and we decided what we would do to express our
00:18:27 decided what we would do to express our concerns I cannot recall when exactly these meetings were but the residents used to meet about once a month we initially complained to the council and
00:18:39 initially complained to the council and then later to our MP there was also a meeting at the local swimming pool with our MP presence that I attended the MP promised that she would try and sort out the issues that had been raised by the
00:18:50 the issues that had been raised by the residents after we complained to our local MP the council finally took out my old boiler and reinstalled a new one in the kitchen I think this was only done
00:19:02 the kitchen I think this was only done for those residents who had complained but I am not sure about that my front door was also changed the original door was much heavier and possibly wooden they also removed and replaced all the
00:19:14 they also removed and replaced all the radiators in the flat except for the kitchen the radiator in the kitchen was removed but not replaced I believe we were informed at a meeting that the radiators in the kitchen were not going
00:19:25 radiators in the kitchen were not going to be replaced but I cannot recall what the explanation was as to what they came to every flat and changed some of the electrical fittings
00:19:36 electrical fittings this included fitting an electric ventilator in the kitchen and fascias to the sockets ironically after the refurbishment there was a greater sense
00:19:47 refurbishment there was a greater sense of community amongst the residents because no one was happy with how the refurbishment had been done I had no idea that highly flammable cladding had been installed on the outside of the
00:19:58 been installed on the outside of the building as part of the refurbishment nobody told me that Annotated plans there are three plans that have been annotated on my instructions that I wish
00:20:09 annotated on my instructions that I wish to exhibit BK one plan of my flat BK 2 plan of my kitchen BK 3 plan of the fourth floor the plan of my flat BK 1
00:20:20 fourth floor the plan of my flat BK 1 identifies where Elsa Alma's and I slept in my flat mr. chairman pulls him down I'll show you the plans when we finished looking at the statement the plan of my kitchen bk2 indicates the area covered by smoke
00:20:33 bk2 indicates the area covered by smoke when I looked into the kitchen in the early hours of the 14th of June 2017 and where I believe various appliances in my kitchen where they kated then and then
00:20:44 kitchen where they kated then and then they listed the location of the smoke alarm and the cupboards in the kitchen as well as the usual location of the mop and bucket are also marked on bk2
00:20:55 and bucket are also marked on bk2 I should mention that I hardly ate at home Elsa and Alma's used the kitchen more than I did and would move things around as such I cannot be 100% certain
00:21:07 around as such I cannot be 100% certain as to the exact location of everything in my kitchen at the time of the fire the plan of the fourth floor bk3 identifies the fourth floor neighbors who I alerted about the fire in the
00:21:20 who I alerted about the fire in the early hours of the 14th of June 2017 my flat and kitchen at the time of the fire there was a small freezer a larger fridge freezer and a small fridge in my
00:21:33 fridge freezer and a small fridge in my kitchen only the larger fridge freezer was plugged in and turned on the small freezer and the small fridge were not plugged in I bought the small freezer approximately nine years ago I bought it
00:21:46 approximately nine years ago I bought it new I think it cost about four hundred pounds and was placed against the wall under the kitchen window it remained in the same position ever since it was a long time ago but I believe that I
00:21:58 long time ago but I believe that I purchased the small freezer from Brent Cross shopping center I cannot be specific about the name of the shop the small freezer broke down just after its one-year warranty had expired
00:22:10 one-year warranty had expired I found a fridge repair technician from the Yellow Pages who informed me that the problem was a faulty fuse in the freezer that was expensive to fix he quoted a price that I could not afford
00:22:21 quoted a price that I could not afford at the time I did not wish to throw away the small freezer as I had spent a lot of money on it and had only had it for just over a year therefore as I still had a lot of space in the kitchen I decided to keep it I hope to get it
00:22:33 decided to keep it I hope to get it repaired at some point when I had the to spare I never got around to having it fixed over five years ago I cannot recall exactly when I purchased the
00:22:44 recall exactly when I purchased the larger fridge freezer I bought it new it was a Hotpoint fridge freezer I recall buying it at a shopping
00:22:55 freezer I recall buying it at a shopping center the nearest shopping center I would go to at that time would have been Brent cross but I cannot say for certain that I got it there in my second police interview I said I thought I had bought
00:23:07 interview I said I thought I had bought the fridge freezer from Brent cross and I thought specifically from John I think I was about to say John Lewis but after thinking about it further I cannot be certain about that now I think I paid
00:23:18 certain about that now I think I paid about two hundred and fifty pounds for the fridge freezer the fridge freezer was situated against the wall adjacent to the kitchen window the worktop had to be cut in order to fit the fridge
00:23:30 be cut in order to fit the fridge freezer into that space the small fridge was elses it was smaller than the broken freezer elsa brought it with her when she moved into the flat at the time of
00:23:41 she moved into the flat at the time of the fire it was on top of the broken small freezer I do not know how old it was or what or what make it was I had been shown a picture of a Russell Hobbs compact fridge model number rht tlf won
00:23:54 compact fridge model number rht tlf won by my solicitor it looks similar in December 2016 Elsa's small fridge was removed from the kitchen for a party I
00:24:05 removed from the kitchen for a party I cannot recall exactly when Elsa's fridge was put back on top of the broken small freezer in the kitchen but it was certainly back there by the time of the fire the small fridge was only used once
00:24:18 fire the small fridge was only used once for a few days I cannot recall exactly when this was but it was because the Hotpoint fridge freezer needed defrosting as it had too much ice in it what I did was switch off the fridge
00:24:29 what I did was switch off the fridge freezer at the mains so that the ice melted and moved the food from the larger fridge freezer temporarily into Elsa's fridge other than this one occasion when it needed defrosting the
00:24:41 occasion when it needed defrosting the Hotpoint fridge freezer never caused me any problems I never had to get it repaired by any else I never repaired or try to repair it myself any suggestion that the fridge/freezer had been tampered with or
00:24:53 fridge/freezer had been tampered with or subjected to an unauthorized DIY repair is nonsense I had been asked to address a number of other matters about my flat and in particular my kitchen in this statement they are as follows there were
00:25:08 statement they are as follows there were two smoke alarms in the flat one in the middle of the kitchen and one in the hallway two to three feet from the front door both were on the ceiling prior to the night of the fire I do not believe that these two smoke alarms had ever
00:25:20 that these two smoke alarms had ever gone off I had no previous problems with either smoke alarm I did not hear the smoke alarm in the hallway go off before I left my flat in the early hours of the 14th of June 2017 the Hotpoint fridge
00:25:34 14th of June 2017 the Hotpoint fridge freezer was an arm's length from the kitchen window I did not keep anything on the windowsill in the kitchen the kitchen window did not have any curtains
00:25:45 kitchen window did not have any curtains or blinds other than the mop and bucket I did not remember anything else being kept in the area between the Hotpoint fridge freezer and the kitchen window there was an electrical hot plate in the
00:25:58 there was an electrical hot plate in the kitchen called an M tad it is used to make traditional Ethiopian bread called injera
00:26:04 injera it was more than eight years old I cannot remember when it was last used but I do know that it had not been used since 2015 as far as I am aware my
00:26:15 since 2015 as far as I am aware my partner was the last person to use it it was my idea I have never had any problems with it the MT had electrical hot plate was usually kept next to the microwave by the boiler or on top of the cupboard
00:26:27 the boiler or on top of the cupboard above the sink I did not know where it was at the time of the fire I did not use any extension leads in the kitchen at the time of the fire the broken
00:26:38 at the time of the fire the broken freezer was in the same position as in photos Bek seven and Bek nine that are exhibited to my police statement dated 5th of April 2018 the broken freezer was
00:26:50 5th of April 2018 the broken freezer was just a few inches from the kitchen window there appear to be some metal poles in the corner near the Hotpoint fridge freezer and window in the bureau veritas photos of
00:27:01 window in the bureau veritas photos of the burnt-out kitchen I am not sure what these are
00:27:04 these are none of us smoked or used candles or used incense in the flat my partner before I talk about my partner I want to
00:27:15 before I talk about my partner I want to make it clear that I am NOT prepared to name her or any other relatives or friends in this statement the reason is that after the Grenfell tower fire several members of the press Harris My
00:27:26 several members of the press Harris My partner and me old photos of me from Facebook appeared in a number of national newspapers completely out of context as if I were enjoying myself after the fire one article in The Daily
00:27:38 after the fire one article in The Daily Mail in particular made me so upset angry and frightened as it appeared to suggest that I was to blame for the fire more about this later my current partner and I have a strong loving relationship
00:27:52 and I have a strong loving relationship I met her through mutual friends we have two children at the time of the fire my partner and children lived in their own home in Shepherds Bush we were all planning on settling down together in my
00:28:04 planning on settling down together in my flat at grenfell tower once I had bought it from the council under the right to buy scheme the fire changed everything soon after my partner and our children
00:28:15 soon after my partner and our children had to vacate their home when journalists turned up at the front door and my partner felt unsafe since then we have all lived together in various hotels 13th of June 2017 prior to
00:28:32 hotels 13th of June 2017 prior to Ramadan in June 2017 I had various jobs I was working as a mini cab driver for a firm in Fulham I was also working as a driver on a construction site during
00:28:45 driver on a construction site during Ramadan I also started driving for uber as many Muslim mini cab drivers were not working there was more work for me and I could earn more money I liked working for uber and began accepting more and
00:28:56 for uber and began accepting more and more calls from them as an uber driver you're self employed with the company paying you on a weekly basis I was trying to earn as much as I could in order to pay the deposit for my flat
00:29:08 order to pay the deposit for my flat at Grenfell tower on the 13th of June 2017 I believe I woke up quite late I would have taken a shower and washed out the hair oil that I had put in my hair
00:29:19 the hair oil that I had put in my hair before going to bed the previous night that was my normal routine I do not remember whether or not I went into the kitchen that day the sliding doors that
00:29:30 kitchen that day the sliding doors that separate the living room from the kitchen are generally closed as these doors give those who are in the kitchen and in the living room a degree of privacy my clothes were kept in a
00:29:42 privacy my clothes were kept in a storage cupboard that was situated near the front door of the flat I'm not 100% sure what I did that day I think I went to Swann they shop in 70 Birds Bush that
00:29:53 to Swann they shop in 70 Birds Bush that sells Ethiopian food ran into a friend there and chatted to him I think I went to Westfield Shopping Center and bought some hair oil from superdrug I think I went to a Chinese restaurant on
00:30:05 went to a Chinese restaurant on Shepherds Bush green on the same side of the road as Shepherds Bush TV station I believe the restaurant is called chop chop I would usually order chicken curry and noodles I generally do not cook at home I would usually take between half
00:30:17 home I would usually take between half an hour and an hour to eat my meal I think I went home afterwards I then drove for uber from about 6:00 to 11:15 p.m. that day I was planning to start
00:30:32 p.m. that day I was planning to start driving again from about 6 or 7 a.m. the next morning at some point that evening I had a sandwich from Preta Marche sometime after 11:00 p.m. I parked on
00:30:43 sometime after 11:00 p.m. I parked on Sirdar Road I pay the council for a parking permit that allows me to park anywhere in the Kensington and Chelsea Borough this is more cost-effective than buying a separate permit to park in
00:30:54 buying a separate permit to park in grenfell Tower Sirdar Road is only a short distance away from grenfell tower at the time I was driving a black Toyota Prius that I had bought secondhand from a friend's
00:31:05 had bought secondhand from a friend's relative I believe I arrived home about 11:30 or 11:45 p.m. I did not see Elsa or Alma's I presume that they had
00:31:17 Elsa or Alma's I presume that they had already gone to bed I did not see or smell anything unusual the sliding doors between the living room and the kitchen were closed the kitchen door in the hallway was also
00:31:28 the kitchen door in the hallway was also closed I did not enter the kitchen I took a shower and put some oil in my hair as I usually do before going to sleep I put on a t-shirt and some boxer
00:31:39 sleep I put on a t-shirt and some boxer shorts I had two Samsung mobile phones and s6 and an s3 one was for personal use and one was for uber driving when I
00:31:50 use and one was for uber driving when I went to bed in the living room the s6 was already fully charged the s3 needed charging and I connected it to the charger I did not fall asleep immediately it took me a while to drift
00:32:01 immediately it took me a while to drift off to sleep I now know that I must have been asleep for less than an hour before I woke up 14th of June 2017 and the fire
00:32:12 I woke up 14th of June 2017 and the fire I was awakened by an unusual beeping sound that I did not recognize at first I do not know what time it was I initially thought it sounded similar to
00:32:23 initially thought it sounded similar to when the electric key finished charging the electricity but this beeping sound did not stop it kept beeping I realized that it must be the smoke alarm in the
00:32:34 that it must be the smoke alarm in the kitchen because the smoke alarm in the hallway was not beeping I opened the door to the kitchen in the hallway the door handle was not hot the handle is on
00:32:45 door handle was not hot the handle is on the left-hand side of the door with the door opening away from you if you are in the hallway I looked inside for a few seconds I do not believe I entered the kitchen if I did it was no more than a
00:32:58 kitchen if I did it was no more than a step I saw smoke it seemed to be coming from behind my Hotpoint fridge freezer smoke was approximately 2/3 of the height of the fridge freezer and had
00:33:10 height of the fridge freezer and had reached about where the cooker was the diagonal lines on BK to indicate the area that was covered by smoke when I looked into the kitchen I did not see
00:33:21 looked into the kitchen I did not see any flames the smoke that I saw in my kitchen was light and white in color I am aware that in my first and second police interviews I describe the smokers
00:33:32 police interviews I describe the smokers both light and dark it is important to remember that I had just had the most frightening experience of my life and wasn't shocked I did not well I also did not have an interpreter during these two
00:33:44 not have an interpreter during these two interviews and I clearly needed one when I said dark I did not mean dark in color I meant thick although I did not specifically notice whether my kitchen
00:33:56 specifically notice whether my kitchen window was open I believe it was open during the summer the kitchen window was normally kept open all the time I am not sure if I closed the kitchen door behind me or not I rushed back to the living
00:34:09 me or not I rushed back to the living room grabbed my samsung s6 mobile phone and dialed 999 I left my other mobile phone behind I banged on the bedroom doors for almas and Elsa at about the
00:34:22 doors for almas and Elsa at about the same time as I was calling 999 I was not able to connect and I no no and immediately I had to make several calls I then got through to the emergency services and spoke to the operator I
00:34:34 services and spoke to the operator I believe that I used the words fridge side and it's burning when I spoke to the 999 operator I was trying to explain that the smoke appeared to be coming
00:34:45 that the smoke appeared to be coming from the back of the fridge freezer I was trying to stress the urgency of the matter and get the fire brigade to get there quickly I thought the smoke in my kitchen could soon be followed by fire I did not
00:34:57 soon be followed by fire I did not actually see any flames until I was downstairs and outside looked up and saw my kitchen on fire through the window as I banged on the bedroom doors in my flat
00:35:08 I banged on the bedroom doors in my flat I was shouting fire fire fire I had to bang on the door several times I then ran out of my flat barefoot wearing only my boxer shorts and t-shirt I banged on
00:35:21 my boxer shorts and t-shirt I banged on the front doors of all the five other flats on the fourth floor I do not know the names of all my neighbors but I am sure that I knocked on the front door of all the five other flats on my floor I
00:35:32 all the five other flats on my floor I spoke to a woman I think her name is Maria or Mary Ann I shouted fire fire I spoke to a Somali male neighbor he was
00:35:43 I spoke to a Somali male neighbor he was sleeping heavily and did not come to the door immediately so I continued banging on his door when he answered I simply shouted fire fire fire I also work up a
00:35:54 shouted fire fire fire I also work up a Sudanese woman and her husband a young couple in an English man I alerted all my neighbors on the fourth floor shouting the same thing to all of them most of them understood the urgency and
00:36:05 most of them understood the urgency and some began screaming after informing everybody on the 4th floor I returned to my living room and grabbed a pair of trousers as all I was wearing at the time was a pair of boxer shorts and a
00:36:18 time was a pair of boxer shorts and a t-shirt I switched off the main red electricity switch in the hallway of my flat because I thought the problem might have been electrical I put on my trousers as I left my flat for the very
00:36:31 trousers as I left my flat for the very last time I cannot be absolutely sure as to the exact sequence of what I was doing after I heard the smoke alarm as it was all happening so fast I was in a
00:36:42 it was all happening so fast I was in a state of shock and I was doing multiple things at the same time but I ended up leaving my flat without any personal possessions all I had on me were the clothes I was wearing and my samsung s6
00:36:55 clothes I was wearing and my samsung s6 mobile phone with which I was calling 999 I left without my shoes my wallet my second mobile phone my flat keys all my car keys when I left my flat the smoke
00:37:08 car keys when I left my flat the smoke had not yet spread beyond my kitchen I did not see any smoke in my living room or in the hallway inside my flat or in the communal area on the fourth floor I must have shut the front door as I've
00:37:21 I must have shut the front door as I've been told that the fire brigade had to force my door in and I believe that I was the last one to leave the fourth floor I remember passing almas whilst I
00:37:32 floor I remember passing almas whilst I was coming down the stairs she had a suitcase with her I understand that you can hear me during my nine nine nine calls speaking in amharic and saying something like what made you come out
00:37:43 something like what made you come out right now
00:37:44 right now why or out grab it and leave just hold it and go out what kind of person are you I was talking to Alma's I said this because at the time I could not
00:37:55 this because at the time I could not understand what she was doing looking back now and being fair to her she had only arrived a few months earlier and probably just grabbed her unpacked suitcase as she left the flat when I got
00:38:08 suitcase as she left the flat when I got downstairs and went outside I stood by the front door as my main concern and focus were on anticipating the Fire Brigades arrival I was unaware who may have been around me at that point I did
00:38:20 have been around me at that point I did go back into the entrance area whilst waiting for the fire brigade to arrive I instinctively wanted to go back upstairs and alert and awake and more people unfortunately I had left my flat keys
00:38:31 unfortunately I had left my flat keys inside my flat and was therefore unable to return inside at one point I received a call from the nine-oh-nine operator and was asked what I had wanted when I
00:38:42 and was asked what I had wanted when I had called the emergency services I told them that the fire brigade had already arrived by then whilst I was standing outside I took photos and videos on my
00:38:53 outside I took photos and videos on my mobile phone the police later took copies of all of this the fire brigade arrived quite quickly they appeared relaxed and confident at first that they could put the fire out
00:39:04 could put the fire out I was asked on which floor the fire was I told them it was on the fourth floor and told them that it was behind the fridge someone made a note of this one
00:39:15 fridge someone made a note of this one firefighter went into the tower pulling the water hose inside others followed him another firefighter stayed with me for a short while asking me more questions regarding the flat number and
00:39:26 questions regarding the flat number and where the fire was located in the flat all I can remember saying to everyone that I met outside was that I had called the fire brigade when I saw smoke in my kitchen I did not say anything about my
00:39:38 kitchen I did not say anything about my fridge exploding in fact I never saw or heard my fridge explode when I was standing outside I saw the fire getting bigger and out of control I saw the fire
00:39:49 bigger and out of control I saw the fire climb up the east side of the building from there my kitchen window on the fourth floor right to the top I found one of my friends initially he did not believe what I was telling him about the
00:40:01 believe what I was telling him about the fire I sent him a photo or video via viber
00:40:04 viber after seeing this he came to the tower straight away when my friends saw me wearing just trousers a t-shirt and no shoes he said that I needed to get changed he offered to take me to my
00:40:16 changed he offered to take me to my partner's home by car when we left the fire was burning intensely I am not sure of the time I could see people on the higher floors waving their hands at that point there was already a
00:40:28 hands at that point there was already a heavy crowd and police presence at the base of the tower I tried phoning my partner but she did not answer I went with my friend to her home the drive is
00:40:40 with my friend to her home the drive is quite quick normally but because of the crowded streets around the tower it took approximately half an hour to get there My partner lived in a ground-floor flat when we arrived I knocked on the window
00:40:51 when we arrived I knocked on the window and she opened the door she was shocked when she saw the state of me and after I told her what had happened I put on some shoes and a jumper and told her that I felt I had to go back to Grenville Tower
00:41:03 felt I had to go back to Grenville Tower as I had so many friends who lived there although she was upset she understood when we returned by car it was impossible to go back the way we had come and said we parked in Ladbroke
00:41:15 come and said we parked in Ladbroke Grove and walked back to the tower on foot I cannot remember exactly what time we returned when we got there the whole Tower was engulfed by an inferno on all
00:41:26 Tower was engulfed by an inferno on all four sides the entire facade of the building was on fire it was terrifying it was much worse than before from a distance I could see people on the higher floors waving their hands there
00:41:38 higher floors waving their hands there were a great number of firefighters and ambulances outside them before those police officers were asking us to move away from the scene more than 100 more than 100 metres away I saw many of my
00:41:50 than 100 metres away I saw many of my neighbors and friends outside the burning building Rugby Portobello and a pub near Latimer Road tube station were opened for Grenfell residents who had managed to get out of the tower there
00:42:02 managed to get out of the tower there was a lot of commotion as people were looking for each other I was still with my friend
00:42:06 my friend I remember going back and forth between the Tower Rugby Portobello and the pub looking for people I knew who lived in the tower mr. chairman I proposed to
00:42:17 the tower mr. chairman I proposed to pause there in my reading aloud of this statement and just to note that the rest of the statement much of which is redacted it is in the record and should be taken as formally read into the
00:42:28 be taken as formally read into the record here it is just that I don't propose to read it aloud today can I then turn to the exhibits to this statement first of all BK 1 BK 1 is a plan of the flat showing
00:42:46 BK 1 BK 1 is a plan of the flat showing where Mystica bed a has marked where his clothes are in the storage cupboard just to the left of the front entrance bedroom 1 is our masters bedroom bedroom
00:42:58 bedroom 1 is our masters bedroom bedroom 2 you don't have it on the on the screen it is there and I shall just perhaps just orally say what I can see the rent
00:43:11 just orally say what I can see the rent and reference is the same reference I think it's behind it's at the very end of the you can find it page 26 was the same document it doesn't have an iwi sir
00:43:27 Thank You mr. Chen Thank You BK well and you can see the plan I'll just repeat what I said this is the internal layout of flat 16 which is adapted from Studio
00:43:38 of flat 16 which is adapted from Studio he architects plans and going clockwise from the front entrance to the left is the storage cupboard where mr. Koo Betty says that his clothes were stored bedroom one is Alma's his bedroom
00:43:50 bedroom one is Alma's his bedroom bedroom 2 is else's bedroom and the living room where mr. Cabella has marked where his mattress was on the night of the fire and then you can see to the
00:44:01 the fire and then you can see to the south on the east side of the kitchen of the flat the kitchen the next exhibit which should be two pages on is BK 2 and that is the plan of the kitchen Mart by
00:44:14 that is the plan of the kitchen Mart by mr. Kirby day and exhibited to this statement and you can see working from the bottom right-hand corner of the plan
00:44:25 the bottom right-hand corner of the plan the door opens from the left to the right into the kitchen and you enter the kitchen from the right and immediately opposite at the cupboards and then the
00:44:37 opposite at the cupboards and then the sink the tumble dryer washing washing machine the cooker and then a the fridge freezer the tall fridge freezer and then in the gap between a and the window the
00:44:50 in the gap between a and the window the mop and bucket and then in the shaded area on the far left and just where H and I are is the area when mr. Capelli says there was smoke that he saw and H
00:45:03 says there was smoke that he saw and H and I H is the large old freezer which was he says unplugged and I is the small fridge which was elses which sat on top
00:45:15 fridge which was elses which sat on top of it which was also he says unplugged if you go to pages on then please to the third exhibit bk3 that is a plan of the fourth floor and
00:45:28 that is a plan of the fourth floor and mr kobera has marked in red on it the identity as far as he can of the neighbors whom he says he woke with the words fire fire fire as he has
00:45:39 with the words fire fire fire as he has explained in his statement and so in flat 11 which is immediately to the south of flat 16 we have the Somali man
00:45:52 south of flat 16 we have the Somali man and then Mario or Maryann and then the young couple and then the Sudanese couple and then the English man lot going clockwise so that is mr. kuberdas
00:46:08 going clockwise so that is mr. kuberdas statement to the inquiry the next document I propose to read mr. chairman is met quadruple 0 6 3 3 9 to give it
00:46:19 is met quadruple 0 6 3 3 9 to give it its relativity reference this is mr. Cabela's second police statement dated the 16th of June 2017 so two days after
00:46:32 the 16th of June 2017 so two days after the fire I propose to read it all into the record it's relatively short some of it goes over the same ground as before but I think it's important that it should be read aloud and it starts by
00:46:45 should be read aloud and it starts by saying that this is a translation of a foreign language statement this statement is about the fire which broke out in Grenfell tower shortly before 1 a.m. on Wednesday the 14th of June 2017
00:46:58 a.m. on Wednesday the 14th of June 2017 I lived in flat 16 on the fourth floor of Grenville tower grenfell Road in Kensington I have lived there around 23 to 25 years it is a two-bedroom flat I have been
00:47:09 it is a two-bedroom flat I have been shown a copy of exhibit ml1 a hand-drawn plan of the flat and I can confirm it accurately represents the layout of the flat I have indicated various locations on a copy of ML 1 during the course of
00:47:22 on a copy of ML 1 during the course of being interviewed which were then marked up by DC nightingale I produced this copy as my exhibit Bek one and a copy of exhibit ml two also annotated for reference and Bek - there are six flats
00:47:37 reference and Bek - there are six flats on every floor with two floors of flats below me and then the ground floor reception the flat had two smoke alarms in
00:47:44 in one or two years ago by the council I have marked the locations of c and d c-- davis on Bek one they were fixed to the ceiling in the corridor and kitchen I
00:47:55 ceiling in the corridor and kitchen I was present when these alarms were installed and heard the noise they were supposed to make when they were tested it was a loud bleeping there was also an alarm in the communal corridor in front of the lift though I never heard this go
00:48:07 of the lift though I never heard this go off and don't know when it was installed two women live with me Alma's and Elsa I don't know their surnames they occupy the bedrooms and I sleep on a mattress in the living room
00:48:18 sleep on a mattress in the living room I met Alma's through a friend that she was looking for a place to stay she moved in three or four months ago and occupies the bedroom opposite the front door as you come in she has a key and
00:48:29 door as you come in she has a key and contributes ninety pounds a week towards costs she keeps all her stuff in her room I have known Elsa a long time and she moved in around two years ago that occupies the room next to the living
00:48:41 occupies the room next to the living room she pays me 100 pounds a week neither of them smoke or use incense or candles I am an uber driver and on Tuesday evening I finished my last job at about 11:15 p.m. and got home about
00:48:54 at about 11:15 p.m. and got home about 11:30 both women were in their bedrooms and I did not see them I washed my face and went straight to bed in the living room the sliding doors to the kitchen
00:49:05 room the sliding doors to the kitchen were closed at around 0 0 55 a.m. I was woken up by the sound of the fire alarm which I think was the one in the kitchen I can't remember if the one in the
00:49:17 I can't remember if the one in the corridor came on the alarm sounded funny it was bleeping but much fainter than at the time I'd heard it when it was installed I couldn't smell anything but went into the kitchen via the main door which was open I could see light colored
00:49:30 which was open I could see light colored smoke in the area next to the fridge freezer and window it was in the general area there I cannot be more specific about exactly where it was coming from this area is marked as e on Bek 2
00:49:43 this area is marked as e on Bek 2 the window was open by about 10 inches the window has two central panes that open inwards with a flip up pane running along the top the windows have keys and were installed as part of the general
00:49:55 were installed as part of the general refurb
00:49:56 refurb the smoke was rising up from floor level and coming towards me I thought it was coming from a floor below but it but I did not go to investigate I was in a state of shock I immediately went back
00:50:08 state of shock I immediately went back into the living room and grabbed my phone and a pair of trousers I was barefoot and in a t-shirt and banged on Alma's and else's doors shouting fire fire fire before going out into the
00:50:19 fire fire before going out into the communal corridor and banging on the neighbors doors chatting fire and waking them up I was in the flat for no more than two or three minutes after seeing the smoke
00:50:29 the smoke I didn't even grab my key on my way out I turned off the electricity supply at the fire box by the front door I also called the fire brigade from my mobile
00:50:40 called the fire brigade from my mobile number and said that there was a fire I gave my address and told them that it was on the fourth floor I was on the phone to them at the same time as I was waking my neighbor up neighbors I cannot
00:50:53 waking my neighbor up neighbors I cannot remember the exact sequence so I didn't see either Alma's or Elsa leave the flat the next time I saw Alma as was on the stairs she was carrying a large carry-on bag my next saw Elsa outside the
00:51:06 bag my next saw Elsa outside the building she didn't have any bags with her I had left the door open so while I was in the communal corridor I saw that the smoke had changed color and become darker the neighbour saw this too
00:51:18 darker the neighbour saw this too through the doorway the smoke did not enter the communal corridor it stayed in the kitchen and I never smelt anything I don't think the alarm in the communal corridor went off all the neighbors came out into the corridor though one of them
00:51:30 out into the corridor though one of them a Somali guy didn't wake up straight away I then went down the emergency stairs I don't know how long I was in the corridor I was panicking when they got down to the ground floor I went to
00:51:41 got down to the ground floor I went to the grassy area outside I got a call from someone in the emergency service I thought it was the police and I told them I had called the fire brigade the fire brigade then arrived and I explained to a fireman that I had seen
00:51:53 explained to a fireman that I had seen smoke coming from the area of the fridge and window this must have been 10 or 15 minutes after I called it was when I was outside the building that I first saw flames coming by the window I can't remember where
00:52:06 by the window I can't remember where they were coming from exactly whether it was my floor or not I was too panicky the flames were very small at that point I took some photos on my phone when I saw the smoke in the kitchen it was
00:52:18 saw the smoke in the kitchen it was coming from the area of the fridge freezer between the cooker and window this is a Hotpoint fridge freezer which I bought about five years ago new from somewhere in Brent cross I paid cash I
00:52:30 somewhere in Brent cross I paid cash I can't remember how much but it wouldn't have been more than two hundred and seventy pounds I was alone when I bought it and got a receipt but don't know if I kept it or where it would be now it had a standard one-year guarantee
00:52:43 it had a standard one-year guarantee which I didn't extend I've never had any problems with it except when it got iced over about a year ago and I had to defrost it for a couple of days it's never been faulty it is plugged into a
00:52:55 never been faulty it is plugged into a double socket behind it halfway up the wall marked a on bek - that is kept constantly plugged in and on the socket was marked fridge by the council the
00:53:06 was marked fridge by the council the other socket is unused all the sockets were installed by the council as part of a refurbishment of the whole building quite a long time again there is another smaller fridge in the kitchen which I
00:53:19 smaller fridge in the kitchen which I had stored on top of an old freezer in the corner opposite by the window the smaller one was bought but brought by Elsa while the fridge freezer was being defrosted so it was only used for a few
00:53:30 defrosted so it was only used for a few days it works but I kept I keep it unplugged so as not to use up electricity the freezer under it stopped working about nine years ago so it is unplugged I had not bought it long
00:53:42 unplugged I had not bought it long before it stopped working so I called in a fridge technician from the Yellow Pages who told me the fuse had gone he wanted money to replace it but it was too much so I decided to leave it I
00:53:53 too much so I decided to leave it I haven't got rid of it because I haven't actually had much use out of it and I thought I would get it fixed easily when I was using it it was plugged into a socket in the living room via an extension cable because where the fridge
00:54:05 extension cable because where the fridge freezer is now there used to be a kitchen cabinet and the freezer cable was too short to extend to the socket there I cut out the kitchen cabinet myself when I bought the fridge freezer I can't remember the
00:54:16 I can't remember the make of the freezer I paid about 400 pounds for it I don't know what make the small fridge was the kitchen has laminate flooring which I laid myself around 20 years ago I used a pre-charged
00:54:30 around 20 years ago I used a pre-charged key to pay for the electricity meter I pay for this in a shop and generally spend about 20 to 30 pounds a month I am the only one with the key the woman sometimes started the women sometimes
00:54:41 sometimes started the women sometimes contribute cash towards it everyone uses the kitchen but none of us uses it regularly as they both leave early and come back late and I also am out a lot I don't know if either of them used it
00:54:53 don't know if either of them used it that evening before I got back we all eat in our own rooms beside the socket behind the fridge freezer there are three others which I have marked F G and H on Bek - they are all double sockets
00:55:06 H on Bek - they are all double sockets the other appliances in the kitchen are an electric cooker a washing machine a microwave kettle and toaster they're all quite old and I couldn't say what makes they are on a typical day the fridge
00:55:18 they are on a typical day the fridge freezer cooker washing machine microwave and toaster would be plugged into their nearest sockets but only the fridge freezer would have the switch on ER the socket
00:55:26 socket although the cooker might have had a switch on to the kettle is normally disconnected there are no extension leads I have never had to call an electrician or report an electrical fault to the council but I am not aware
00:55:38 fault to the council but I am not aware of any problems with power surges or sparks I have never had a problem with the electricity supply I occasionally smoke but never in the flat I did not smoke that night and I did not drink
00:55:49 smoke that night and I did not drink either there is no gas in the flat and I do not use candles or incense
00:55:59 the exhibits to that statement mr. chairman I didn't propose to take the inquiry to and they are formally read into the record and I shall refer to that later as such can I next then turn
00:56:12 that later as such can I next then turn to mr. Cabela's forthe police witness statement the relative relativity reference to which is met quadruple zero
00:56:23 reference to which is met quadruple zero eight zero three zero dated the 24th of November 2017 it's a short statement of
00:56:35 November 2017 it's a short statement of the Chairman and I shall read it all further to my first statement to the police I have been asked about a neighbor I referred to as a Somali guy who took some time to leave the flat that night after I went round knocking
00:56:47 that night after I went round knocking on everyone's doors this neighbor lived next door to me but I am not actually sure of the door number I have drawn a diagram which I produce as Exhibit B ek
00:56:58 diagram which I produce as Exhibit B ek three to illustrate he moved in about six months earlier with his young children one or two I think - I have never spoken to him and I do not know his name but since the fire I have seen
00:57:10 his name but since the fire I have seen him giving interviews to news channels on TV and on YouTube and I think he may be about 40 with a beard and he clearly has been in the UK a long time from how he speaks I saw this man say in one
00:57:22 he speaks I saw this man say in one interview that I told him my fridge exploded I want to make clear I definitely never used the word exploded I cannot remember exactly what I did say apart from saying fire fire just to be
00:57:35 apart from saying fire fire just to be clear I did not even see flames in my kitchen before leaving I have also been told by her friends that this neighbor has been telling people that we saw each other outside the building that night and he hugged me this is not true I have
00:57:48 and he hugged me this is not true I have never seen him again after knocking on his door I have just looked up another interview he did on YouTube and this gives his name asthma had a Gao
00:57:59 mr. chairman the next document I wish to read aloud is mr. kuberdas six police witness statement it's dated the 5th of April 2018 and the relativity reference
00:58:10 April 2018 and the relativity reference to it is met triple zero one two eight nine three along this I'm going to read
00:58:24 nine three along this I'm going to read parts of it in out aloud and the rest of it should be taken as having been read into the record this statement is about a few things that I have been asked to clarify by the police I've been shown a transcript of the nine
00:58:36 I've been shown a transcript of the nine nine nine call I made to the fire brigade and I've been asked who or what I was referring to when I say grab it and leave what kind of person is she I was talking to and about Alma's the
00:58:47 was talking to and about Alma's the woman who was living in my flat I was a bit annoyed because I saw her with a heavy suitcase when I wanted everyone to leave immediately and no one else brought luggage I'm not sure where I was
00:58:58 brought luggage I'm not sure where I was when I said it because I was moving around a lot as I was on the phone I've also been asked about the furniture inside the flat on the day of the fire I sent DC nightingale seven photos taken
00:59:12 sent DC nightingale seven photos taken inside the flat I sent these via whatsapp
00:59:15 whatsapp on the 21st of March 2018 the photos were all taken in 2016 and I produced them as follows and then I don't need to take you to that mr. chairman he then on
00:59:27 take you to that mr. chairman he then on the next page page 2 just above half way down refers to a diagram he says I have been given a diagram of the flat on the fifth floor above mine in the tower I could confirm that the layout appears to
00:59:40 could confirm that the layout appears to be the same as my flat flat 16 the doors are all shown to be open incorrectly in or out and then on the very last page of this of that document I shall read
00:59:55 of this of that document I shall read the first two paragraphs and some of the final paragraph he says at the time of the fire I was sleeping on a double mattress on the
01:00:06 sleeping on a double mattress on the floor in between the sofa and chairs as he turned into the living room in the far corner to your left there was an NEC TV flat screen on the stand I cannot remember how many inches the
01:00:17 I cannot remember how many inches the screen was next to it is a floor lamp I bought secondhand from Portobello market several years ago on the floor next to that of two speakers and a tape strokes CD player by Ken wood that I mentioned
01:00:28 CD player by Ken wood that I mentioned as a visible from Bek 4a shown in Bek 8 there was then a glass and chrome dining table with two layers and four high back chairs I do not know what these chairs were made of but it was not wood I
01:00:40 were made of but it was not wood I bought the table and chairs together from an auction in Wembley many years ago I cannot remember how much for in the corner next to the table was another plant in a white wooden container the
01:00:51 plant in a white wooden container the container was identical to the one used for the plant next to the fish tank there were no rugs in the flat the floor was wooden laminate in the other corner by the double doors was a wooden fruit
01:01:02 by the double doors was a wooden fruit bowl on legs with fake fruit in it which I bought from Portobello market coming to the kitchen the only difference from the photos is that there was an extra tiny fridge on top of the freezer to the
01:01:13 tiny fridge on top of the freezer to the left as you enter via the living room I am not sure of the name of the material used on the floor with a fireman who interviewed me knew what it was I do not have any photos of the bedrooms in
01:01:24 have any photos of the bedrooms in else's bedroom I produced a diagram of the flat as bek 10 I bought the double bed and wardrobe from Ikea and then he explains the materials of the wood
01:01:39 and then if we look at the next document which is Bek 7 which is one of the
01:01:50 which is Bek 7 which is one of the exhibits to that statement that exhibit is relativity number met triple zero one two nine eight seven this is a
01:02:02 two nine eight seven this is a photograph taken in flat 16 looking out to the southeast from the living room as
01:02:13 to the southeast from the living room as the chairman into the kitchen and you can see looking at the objects you can see on the right the cooker and then at the top of the photograph in the center the tool fridge/freezer with what looks
01:02:26 the tool fridge/freezer with what looks like a fridge magnet on it and then moving to the left across the picture a gap with a long straight object and then the old fridge freezer just under the
01:02:39 the old fridge freezer just under the window there which you can see on the Left tucked behind what looks like part of the sliding door the next document is Bek 8 which is relativity number met
01:02:53 Bek 8 which is relativity number met triple zero one two nine eight eight
01:02:59 this shows again ignoring the individuals in it and the furniture in the living room it shows the kitchen at some distance away and the division between them again you can see the
01:03:10 between them again you can see the cooker very clearly there and then to its left the tall fridge freezer with some objects on top of it and then a white space or light space indicating
01:03:21 white space or light space indicating the presence of the window and then below to its left the small freezer and then on the top of that what looks to be another object square object on the top
01:03:32 another object square object on the top of it
01:03:34 the next document is Bek 9 relativity reference met triple 0 1 2 9 8 9 which
01:03:47 reference met triple 0 1 2 9 8 9 which is a picture of the kitchen ignoring the cat for the moment the evidence to which is that it ran away before the fire there is the cooker and then the tall
01:03:59 there is the cooker and then the tall fridge freezer to its left to the left of the fridge freezer in the gap between it and the window you can see a pale blue object and some other objects one
01:04:11 blue object and some other objects one can't quite make out and I would observe without making a submission about it that that looks similar to a modern bucket for cleaning materials and then to the left of that a further piece of
01:04:25 to the left of that a further piece of kitchen white goods the afraid the old freezer and you can see very clearly these sliding doors which divide the kitchen from the living room in that
01:04:36 kitchen from the living room in that photograph the next document mr. chairman is mr. kuberdas 7th police witness statement that is relativity reference met triple 0 1 3 0
01:04:52 relativity reference met triple 0 1 3 0 2 2 dated the 16th of April 2018 it's very short so I shall read it all aloud I had been asked by police to give
01:05:05 aloud I had been asked by police to give another statement to address some specific points as follows I've been asked what the round electrical cooking device found by the side of the fridge freezer is and shown a picture of it I do not recognize this
01:05:17 a picture of it I do not recognize this and cannot think of any type of pan of mine which fits this description it's possible that it belongs to Elsa but I don't know there was normally a mop in a
01:05:28 don't know there was normally a mop in a plastic bucket stored between the fridge freezer and the window sometimes I also put the laundry washing powder there as well but don't think there was any there on the night of the fire after the council installed new windows I did not
01:05:40 council installed new windows I did not put up any curtains or blinds in the kitchen or living room the small fridge belonging to it to Elsa was stacked on top of the standalone freezer which wasn't working neither of these were
01:05:51 wasn't working neither of these were plugged in they were positioned opposite the main fridge freezer as I have already indicated in previous statements I sometimes kept boxes of cornflakes on top of the fridge freezer but that night
01:06:02 top of the fridge freezer but that night I'm sure that they weren't any the sliding doors were closed that night my mattress was next to the living room door leading to the hall so that so when I went to look in the kitchen that night I looked through the kitchen door which
01:06:13 I looked through the kitchen door which also opens onto the hall none of us smoked in the flat and as far as I am aware no one cooked that night although I did not get home until late so I was not there in the evening mr.
01:06:28 so I was not there in the evening mr. chairman the next document is mr. Cooper days 8 police witness statement dated the 24th of May 2018 the reference to which on relativity is met triple 0 1 5
01:06:40 which on relativity is met triple 0 1 5 0 2 3
01:06:42 0 2 3 that's a three-page statement I don't intend to read it all out aloud just a paragraph from it and the rest I should ask to be read formally into the record
01:06:53 ask to be read formally into the record it's he says again this is an English translation of a foreign language statement I have been asked by police to answer some further questions relating to the contents and layout of flat 16 brutal terror in my last statement of
01:07:07 brutal terror in my last statement of the 16th of April 2018 I was shown a picture of an electric cooking device which I did not recognize at the time after speaking to Elsa I realized that this must be attempted which is a sort
01:07:19 this must be attempted which is a sort of hot plate used to make injera or flatbread in Ethiopia I brought this back from Ethiopia over eight years ago but had not used it for a few years it was it was normally kept on the kitchen
01:07:30 was it was normally kept on the kitchen top next to the boiler but I can't remember where it was on the night of the fire we would move things around in the kitchen often my girlfriend Frei Oni was the last person to use it sometime
01:07:42 was the last person to use it sometime before 2016 it would definitely not have been plugged in on the night of the fire I have been told it was found by the fridge freezer I didn't do not know how it ended up there the next document mr.
01:08:00 it ended up there the next document mr. chairman I'm just looking at the time I've probably got about five minutes to go which will complete mr. kuberdas ever but we do that we do that thank you the next document then mr. chairman is the seat a run of CCTV images of mr.
01:08:15 the seat a run of CCTV images of mr. Capelli leaving the tower selected from footage by the inquiry team and I read the relativity numbers out as I go the
01:08:26 the relativity numbers out as I go the first one is ink or inq six zeros 15
01:08:41 I was just wet actually just Paul's till the photograph comes up and if that could be enlarged that would be good if you can't and it can't we can't very
01:08:53 you can't and it can't we can't very good thank you mr. Shawn director it's very helpful this is a photograph of Elsa descending the stairs the timestamp
01:09:04 Elsa descending the stairs the timestamp for this picture is not the one on the top left-hand corner of the photograph it is the one which is not easily visible to the naked eye at the bottom
01:09:16 visible to the naked eye at the bottom left-hand corner in white and that shows 0-0
01:09:21 0-0 5712 it then has to be adjusted by - 36 seconds to give you 0 0 56 36 that time itself that is not completely that solid
01:09:34 itself that is not completely that solid and will require some further we suspect and hope minor very further verification that for present purposes you can you can proceed on that basis the next
01:09:46 can proceed on that basis the next photograph is inq 6 zeros 28 which is taken at looking at this camera 5800
01:09:57 taken at looking at this camera 5800 5856 which results if you take 36 seconds off its 5820 also and if i say
01:10:08 seconds off its 5820 also and if i say also it would indicate i hope to everybody that it is not absolutely precise time to the very second and that is mr. q bedded descending the stairs in the lobby - Grenfell tower or just
01:10:21 the lobby - Grenfell tower or just around that time 5000 58 and 20 seconds and there on the right hand side you can see Elsa the next photograph is inq 6
01:10:35 see Elsa the next photograph is inq 6 zeros 27
01:10:41 the timestamp of which in the bottom left-hand corner is 0 0 58 59 which when given the adjustment gives about 58 23
01:10:53 given the adjustment gives about 58 23 so 0 0 58 23 and you can see that mr capa de wearing what he says in his statements that he was wearing holding a mobile phone and elsa following him
01:11:07 mobile phone and elsa following him behind also with her mobile phone approaching the front entrance to Grenville tower the next photograph is inq 6 zeros 54 and this from the
01:11:25 inq 6 zeros 54 and this from the timestamp in the bottom left is 0 0 59 o 3 which when adjusted gives an about time of 0 0 58 27 and you can see mr.
01:11:40 time of 0 0 58 27 and you can see mr. Cooby day going out of the door he's there in the doorway followed by elsa also exiting the next photograph is IM
01:11:53 also exiting the next photograph is IM q60 47 the timestamp for which reads 1 0 0 and 51 seconds which when adjusted
01:12:05 0 and 51 seconds which when adjusted gives about 1 0 0 15 there very shortly after 1 o'clock in the morning and that is a firefighter entering the main entrance to Grenville tower into the
01:12:18 entrance to Grenville tower into the lobby at that time a lot of the moment able to identify who that is and then the last in the sequence of photographs
01:12:29 the last in the sequence of photographs is inc
01:12:30 is inc inq 6 0 0 9 which is fire fighters in the lobby to grenfell tower and the time
01:12:42 the lobby to grenfell tower and the time for that unadjusted is 0 1 0 1 16 which when
01:12:46 when the rough adjustment is zero one zero zero and about 40 seconds the precise identity of the officers there is a
01:12:59 identity of the officers there is a matter for further evidence finally in this run mr. chairman we have a very short statement from a police officer
01:13:11 short statement from a police officer which exhibits those CCTV images and others its relativity reference met triple zero one two eight one seven and
01:13:29 triple zero one two eight one seven and he in fact also can I correct that he actually identifies the cameras but also
01:13:40 actually identifies the cameras but also then goes on to exhibit some photographs we haven't yet seen which I'm going to show you can I start with this at the beginning of that statement if we can
01:13:53 beginning of that statement if we can just have it up on the screen there please
01:14:00 it's met triple zero one three one three zero
01:14:14 thank you very much it's dated the 5th of April 2018 and this is a statement from Patrick O'Riordan who says in the
01:14:26 from Patrick O'Riordan who says in the second paragraph that he's currently working within the operation North Lee CCTV unit which deals with all the CCTV images and other related footage obtained and relating to the Grenville
01:14:37 obtained and relating to the Grenville tower fire I've been attached to the CCTV strand of the grenfell investigation since August 2017 due to my prior identification work with the super recognizer unit and other
01:14:50 with the super recognizer unit and other like work with SC one on operation purple wave the investigation into the murder of Alice cross my role involves identifying the last movements of the deceased at groennfell tower from CCTV
01:15:01 deceased at groennfell tower from CCTV taken from that building and the subsequent creation of a timeline in that regard and then he explained in the next part of that paragraph familiarity with the residence movements in the tower and then at the top of the next
01:15:12 tower and then at the top of the next page in clarification there are five cameras covering the entrance lobby and lift areas of Grenfell and the standard or quality of that footage is excellent ie high D standard HD standard entry to
01:15:25 ie high D standard HD standard entry to the tower is fob key access only unless a resident is buzzing you in the correct time is in white at the bottom left of screen in this statement I will detail
01:15:36 screen in this statement I will detail the movements of Bo hey liya Kebede a who was a resident on the fourth floor of Granville tower on the night of the tragic events of the 14th of June that should be June 2017 and from whose room
01:15:47 should be June 2017 and from whose room the fire emanated after his fridge caught fire in accordance with the public inquiry teams request I have identified the following movements made by mr. B hey Luca bed a prior to the
01:15:58 by mr. B hey Luca bed a prior to the fire on that night of the 13th of and that should be June 2017 I note that mr. kabiri exits grenfell tower the tower at 18 17 16 hours and later on returns to
01:16:12 18 17 16 hours and later on returns to the building in the same clothing at 23 46 10 powers and the relevant footage in this request is the CCTV footage from the entrance and lift lobby soul exit and entry
01:16:23 and entry point of the tower welcome Betty's return into the building he does not and is not seem to make any further movements until the start of the fire I exhibit the aforementioned stroke
01:16:34 exhibit the aforementioned stroke disgust images as follows and in time and date order PJ OCC 626 is a printed CCTV image that behavior kabedon leaving Grenfell tower at 18 17 16 hours on the
01:16:47 Grenfell tower at 18 17 16 hours on the 13th of June 2017 seal number MP s is said one eight five three nine four four six refers the next image paraphrase is
01:16:58 six refers the next image paraphrase is an image of B hey Luke Abed egg entering Graham felt our rear view but 23:46 10 hours on the 13th of June 2017 and he gives the seal number and then the next
01:17:11 gives the seal number and then the next rep the image is a printed CCT of image of behead oka better entering grenfell tower front view in 2346 16 hours on the 13th of June 2017 and again he gives the
01:17:24 13th of June 2017 and again he gives the seal number and if I can then ask to go to the next document in that sequence still in met triple zero one two eight
01:17:35 still in met triple zero one two eight one seven here we have mystic a better leaving in the lobby at eighteen seventeen sixteen that is what the white
01:17:48 seventeen sixteen that is what the white numbers will timestamp at the bottom left hand corner shames to chairman but that has not been adjusted by the number of seconds that are required to be adjusted adjusted to bring it into line
01:17:59 adjusted adjusted to bring it into line with what we know but it's more or less correct than you put it that way the next image which is in the same sequence under the same relativity
01:18:11 sequence under the same relativity number is mr kobera turning to the tower at 23 in 46 10 as shown by the timestamp in the bottom left hand corner again which falls to be adjusted and then
01:18:24 which falls to be adjusted and then finally in the same sequence as to get better coming in to the Tower of Granville the to the lobby of Granville Tower
01:18:33 Tower at 23 4614 looking at the bottom left-hand timestamp again to be adjusted as I have explained so that shows him
01:18:45 as I have explained so that shows him returning from as he says in his statement from work on that night before the fire mr. chairman that concludes the
01:18:57 the fire mr. chairman that concludes the evidence of and about mr. Kirby day himself on the night of the fire and just before it is that a convenient moment for a break thank you very much
01:19:08 moment for a break thank you very much for saying for it is so we'll have a break now and resume at 25 to 12 right thank you
01:19:24 you
01:38:34 yes missed a minute I
01:38:39 I'm now going to turn to the material relating to Elsa after work II and I start with witness statement done for
01:38:51 start with witness statement done for the inquiry which is reference I WS zero zero zero zero zero five areas two eight zero dated the 21st of May 2018 and
01:39:10 zero dated the 21st of May 2018 and signed by her under a single truth and I shall read it background do you want this on the screen yes please mr. cha
01:39:23 this on the screen yes please mr. cha director its iws and then five zero is two eight zero thank you very much Thank
01:39:35 two eight zero thank you very much Thank You mr. chairman background this statement is about the events that took place on the 14th of June 2017 and is about phase one of the inquiry only and
01:39:46 about phase one of the inquiry only and relates to the flat in which the fire is believed to have started I was born in Addis Ababa and came to the UK in the early 1990s following the Civil War I
01:39:59 early 1990s following the Civil War I was granted British citizenship in 2011 in addition to English I speak amharic Eritrean and a bit of Arabic I work full
01:40:10 Eritrean and a bit of Arabic I work full time as an Accounts Manager I attend a church in Kensington called Kensington temple at the time of the Granville Tower fire I was living in flat 16 and
01:40:23 Tower fire I was living in flat 16 and have been there for over two years after moving in around February 2015 I now know that flat 16 was where the fire started
01:40:33 started I rented a room from B Haley oka Bedi who was the council tenant and paid rent of 400 pounds a month this included all bills such as gas electricity water and
01:40:45 bills such as gas electricity water and cans
01:40:45 cans tax the property is a two-bedroom flat with good sized bedrooms and a particularly large living room there were two bedrooms and when I first moved in I had the slightly smaller one as you
01:40:57 in I had the slightly smaller one as you come into the as you first come into the flat but later moved to the larger bedroom in the middle this was my first room at the time of the fire I did not neighbor Halley before I moved
01:41:08 I did not neighbor Halley before I moved in and he was simply my landlord we met because he was looking for someone to rent a room and I heard of him through the community at the start but Helu had one bedroom and I used the other and
01:41:19 one bedroom and I used the other and there was a living room and shared kitchen and bathroom after a while but Haley began to use the living room as a bedroom and also rented out the other bedroom I have attached a plan of the
01:41:31 bedroom I have attached a plan of the flat which I have marked to show where things were located and exhibit this herein as Exhibit one I had the middle bedroom and another lady lived in the
01:41:42 bedroom and another lady lived in the other bedroom she had only been there for a few months at the time of the fire and I had never actually seen her or even knew her name if I met her today I would not recognize her I did not meet
01:41:53 would not recognize her I did not meet her because she had not been there for long and because our daily routines were very different and so I never ran into her I now know she is called Alma's kin foo but I do not know her and have never
01:42:06 foo but I do not know her and have never spoken with her my routine is to get up early and leave the house at about 7:00 a.m. in order to start work at 8:00 a.m. after work I may see friends or eat out
01:42:18 after work I may see friends or eat out and tend to return later in the evening and go to bed quite early but Haley works as a taxi driver and is often not in the flat in the evening and for much of the night as a result I often had the
01:42:31 of the night as a result I often had the flat to myself because I would not see anyone I sometimes hurt miss kin foo in the room next door but never really saw her before her there was a man living there but I never really saw him either
01:42:42 there but I never really saw him either over the two years I have got to know behaviour a little bit but our lives were very different and the arrangement suited us I liked living in grenfell tower it was quiet and my room was big
01:42:54 tower it was quiet and my room was big and although it was central the flat was very quiet at the beginning but Haley wasn't sure if I was the right person to stay in his flat but after a short time he realized I was reliable and we got on but hey Lu
01:43:07 I was reliable and we got on but hey Lu was a good landlord I got on with my own business and he had his I did not know my neighbors that well but I used to say hello to the Sudanese guy on the fourth floor and I would see him in the lift in
01:43:20 floor and I would see him in the lift in the morning I didn't know his name I just knew him to say hello we used to leave at the same time in the morning next door I used to see different people there was an English husband and wife at
01:43:33 there was an English husband and wife at first but after I had been there awhile that changed and suddenly I saw a Somali man with an English wife I think that they had been there only two or three months or so at the time of the fire
01:43:44 months or so at the time of the fire I knew Allah machette who lived in the tower and had met her before in an Ethiopian Church use and layout of the kitchen we lived fairly separate
01:43:57 the kitchen we lived fairly separate lives and I kept myself to myself I did not cook that much in the flat I am single and cooking is not my thing I would use the kitchen to make coffee tea and some basic food but not that much
01:44:10 and some basic food but not that much the kitchen was entirely electric near the window was a large fridge freezer and next to that a cooker and after that a bin there was then a washing machine and sink at the end of the kitchen top
01:44:23 and sink at the end of the kitchen top we had a microwave and toaster I exhibit a plan marked exhibit 2 there was a small gap between the fridge freezer and the window it was not
01:44:34 fridge freezer and the window it was not a very big gap and you could not do much with it we kept a mop and red plastic bucket there but there was not much space in the past I used it to store 6 1 liter bottles of water but that was a
01:44:46 liter bottles of water but that was a few years ago and only once or twice at the time of the fire it was a narrow space used to store a mop and bucket and nothing else the windowsill was empty
01:44:57 nothing else the windowsill was empty and nothing was stored on it there was a radiator under the window the kitchen had no table or chairs in it but we did have a separate freezer and small fridge which were kept on top of each other
01:45:08 each other they were in the corner opposite the fridge/freezer they had been there for a few years the freezer was there when I arrived I never saw it working but
01:45:19 arrived I never saw it working but thought it was a spare freezer in around the summer of 2015 the main fridge freezer stopped working I found that milk was going rotten and it was not keeping things cold I think it was
01:45:30 keeping things cold I think it was because there was too much ice that had built up and the door wouldn't close properly but I don't know the helú unplugged the fridge for a day or so and we had no production at that
01:45:41 or so and we had no production at that time it was summer and we needed a fridge so I bought a small fridge from a friend that we had something to cool things my hope was that I could use this small fridge in my room and have it with
01:45:52 small fridge in my room and have it with me keep my milk or yoghurt in order to plug the small fridge I used an extension cable to plug it in and it worked after a few days I came home and the fridge freezer was working again and
01:46:03 the fridge freezer was working again and the fourth small fridge unplugged I don't think the fridge freezer was ever actually broken but just stopped working because it had too much ice once the fridge freezer thawed out it started
01:46:14 fridge freezer thawed out it started working again and I think that the hey loo just plugged it back in we did not move the small fridge into my room because this used electricity and cost money but hey we paid for the electricity on a key meter and we wanted
01:46:27 electricity on a key meter and we wanted to save money so I did not move the small fridge into my room and we did not use it we left it in the kitchen of the spare freezer the fridge freezer had the
01:46:38 spare freezer the fridge freezer had the same problem again I think in about 2016 when ice built up again be Haley unplugged it and again after the ice had melted the problem was sorted out and
01:46:49 melted the problem was sorted out and the fridge freezer started working again we kept the small fridge there in case the main one stopped working I said in my police statement that there had been no electrical problems with the fridge
01:47:00 no electrical problems with the fridge and that it was working okay that was correct on the night of the fire and I don't know if the two times of fridge stopped working were because of electrical problems or not I think the problem was buildup of ice
01:47:12 problem was buildup of ice the fridge freezer was working at the time of the fire and was plugged in normally without an extension cable we only used the extension cable for the short time when we use the small fridge
01:47:23 short time when we use the small fridge and normally there was no need for such extension cables hot plate injera pan the Hitchin had a work surface along one side with ordinary
01:47:34 surface along one side with ordinary kitchen cupboards on the wall above on top of the cupboard above the sink area was an electric injera pan for making injera a traditional Ethiopian flatbread the injera pan had a shiny aluminium lid
01:47:47 the injera pan had a shiny aluminium lid and was kept on top of the cupboard somewhere near the sink I exhibited photo taken from the internet that shows one that was very similar exhibit three the injera pan was not in the cupboard
01:47:58 the injera pan was not in the cupboard but on top of it I never used the injera pan and if I wanted to eat injera I would just buy it making injurer takes three days in winter and two days in summer and I
01:48:09 winter and two days in summer and I never bothered to make it especially just for myself I never saw the injera pan being used and it just stayed on top of the cupboard the cover was quite big and I remember seeing it looking at the
01:48:20 and I remember seeing it looking at the pictures from my flat after the fire I had been asked about a hot plate this looks like the electric in jira pan that was on top of the kitchen cupboard as I say I never saw the pan used and did not
01:48:32 say I never saw the pan used and did not know if it even worked and the last time I saw it it was on top of the cupboard I do not know where it came from on the night of the fire I did not see the kitchen in use and there was nothing
01:48:44 kitchen in use and there was nothing unusual the injera pan did not appear to be in use and the freezer and small fridge were not plugged in and not being used the night of the fire on the day of
01:48:57 used the night of the fire on the day of the fire I came back from work at around 8:30 in the evening I had been clothes shopping that night no one else was in the flat when I arrived back and I was able to have a shower and a cup of tea I
01:49:10 able to have a shower and a cup of tea I was in my room for a time reading something it was a normal quiet evening and I went to sleep around 11 p.m. in order to help me sleep
01:49:21 order to help me sleep I took a tablet called redacted I have been prescribed this by my GP it is not for sleeping but I have found that it helps me sleep it
01:49:32 I have found that it helps me sleep it can be hard for me to sleep but I find that when I take one of these with hot water it makes me sleep very well they make me a bit dizzy and I fall asleep quickly when I take one I took the tablet and fell asleep and
01:49:45 I took the tablet and fell asleep and then at some point I heard behavior knocking on my door he said fire fire come out the Helu has since told me that he knocked on my door three or four times and had difficulty waking me the
01:49:58 times and had difficulty waking me the tablet that I had taken works very well at helping me sleep I don't always take them but when I have difficulty sleeping I take one I was in a very deep sleep when he knocked on the
01:50:10 a very deep sleep when he knocked on the door and even when I woke up I felt like I was sleepwalking when he said come on fire fire I first thought it was just an alarm or a practice evacuation like you
01:50:21 alarm or a practice evacuation like you get at work in my mind I thought we would leave and we would come back very quickly sometimes we have a fire drill at work and it felt like that I had
01:50:32 at work and it felt like that I had never seen any fire in grenfell tower or heard anything about a fire before and when I woke up that night I was still very sleepy and felt like I was sleepwalking and I'm not the sort of
01:50:43 sleepwalking and I'm not the sort of person who wakes up quickly I came out of my bedroom and I saw bahala and Alma's kin foo al Mars was running up and down the corridor which I thought was odd because everybody knows that
01:50:54 was odd because everybody knows that when there is a fire you have to leave immediately I left them behind and walk straight from my bedroom out of the flat I didn't go into any other room I did not look into the bathroom or the kitchen I
01:51:05 into the bathroom or the kitchen I simply walked out of the flat and took the stairs down as I left I do not remember seeing any smoke or fire although there was a smoke alarm in the
01:51:16 although there was a smoke alarm in the kitchen I don't remember hearing it I didn't look left or right but just walked out when I left I took my mobile phone which is normally on my bed or by the bedside but other than this I had
01:51:28 the bedside but other than this I had nothing and was still in my night clothes
01:51:31 clothes I didn't really know what was going on I was walking but also still kind of sleeping I think that'd be Hayley was walking behind me down the stairs but I don't really remember I took the stairs
01:51:43 don't really remember I took the stairs and did not think of taking the lift I know this because at work we do not use lifts when there is a fire alarm I don't remember hearing any fire alarm as I left the flat or in the stairs but
01:51:55 left the flat or in the stairs but Hayley said that he heard an alarm and that is why he woke up but I don't remember hearing it myself I walked from the flat directly into the into the lobby area and then down the stairs as I
01:52:08 lobby area and then down the stairs as I was walking down the stairs I didn't see anything like fire or any smoke the lights were on and it was clear but as soon as I reached the ground I saw the farm and coming into the tower
01:52:19 I saw the farm and coming into the tower and we walked past each other the fire brigade seemed to be arriving at the front of the building as I was leaving I don't remember anyone else coming from the building at that point the police
01:52:32 the building at that point the police have shown me a CCTV photograph of me leaving that says I left at 0:58 o 5:00 I am holding my mouth I don't know why that is he could have been
01:52:43 know why that is he could have been yawning or smoke I just don't know outside the building I do remember seeing the Sudanese guy I knew standing there with his wife they were the ones that said the fire was in my flat that
01:52:55 that said the fire was in my flat that was the first time I knew about this it was only when I was outside that I saw the fire outside the tower when I got downstairs
01:53:06 downstairs I walked out of the building round to the side of the tower there is a grassy area to the east side very quickly the whole side of the tower was on fire the shock of what was happening hit me I
01:53:19 shock of what was happening hit me I couldn't believe how quickly the fire spread from my flat up the side of the building I don't remember exactly where the fire was on the building when we left but it didn't take any time for the
01:53:31 left but it didn't take any time for the fire to spread and climb right up the side of the tower it was horrific seeing it spread and realized the people were inside
01:53:41 inside as I was standing with the Sudanese couple looking at this I started to panic and I began to have difficulty knowing whether what I could see was true
01:53:51 true I was just shivering and shaking another Arabic woman came up and stood with us within minutes other people arrived near me my brain
01:54:02 other people arrived near me my brain was just focused on the fire and I thought I was dreaming I didn't think it was really happening maybe on TV I have seen things that are similar but on the television or in a film it is not like
01:54:13 television or in a film it is not like that it's completely different I don't even have a word in my own language to say what the shock was Mike I remember my whole body responding I needed to go
01:54:25 my whole body responding I needed to go to the toilet which got worse and worse until I slightly wet myself I was thinking how people were going to come out what was going to happen to them I felt sick I left the side of the
01:54:38 felt sick I left the side of the building because I urgently wanted to go to the toilet there was no toilet but I was so desperate that I just went to the toilet near a tree I was so frightened that I hardly knew what I was doing when
01:54:50 that I hardly knew what I was doing when I came back everybody was there this was just a few minutes later the police and the fire brigade had all arrived and there was a crowd of people the atmosphere was completely different there were so many people everything was
01:55:03 there were so many people everything was chaos and the fire was out of control my body was shattered from the shock of what I could see I stood on the grass the area to the side of Grenfell Tower I
01:55:15 the area to the side of Grenfell Tower I think there may have been other Tower residents there but I wasn't sure and I don't really remember it I was still finding it difficult to know what was going on the fire was just going
01:55:28 going on the fire was just going everywhere after a short time it started making a crackling and popping type noise I have never seen anything like it before it took only a few minutes and it was everywhere I can't remember step by
01:55:41 was everywhere I can't remember step by step what happened and felt overwhelmed by it all the fire was so quick and so strong no one could control the fire it was uncontrollable like a gas it was like petrol when it catches fire as I
01:55:55 like petrol when it catches fire as I was standing there I didn't notice four hey Lou or Alma's I have no idea what happened to our mass and I do not think that I would recognize even recognize her today if I saw her while standing
01:56:07 her today if I saw her while standing outside the tower watching the fire I could hear everything children were shouting up to the people in the tower come out fire fire fire people were definitely trapped and
01:56:19 people were definitely trapped and hearing people scream for help was - was horrific the fire brigade were just next to the tower I think they were spraying the building but the fire got worse so quickly I knew the phone numbers of a
01:56:32 quickly I knew the phone numbers of a few people in the tower and called my friend Alamos yet and also Sayid both phones right just rang and rang and neither answered and I couldn't speak to
01:56:43 neither answered and I couldn't speak to either of them I tried to call them again but was never able to speak to them as they did not answer I knew the faces of many people in the tower but did not lay their phone
01:56:54 tower but did not lay their phone numbers I wanted to help but I couldn't call them I found a friend and we prayed over the phone I expected that the fire brigade would come and they would handle
01:57:05 brigade would come and they would handle the fire but very quickly the fire was out of control it was up the entire side of the building and the fire brigade just couldn't reach that high I moved to
01:57:16 just couldn't reach that high I moved to another place and came back I don't know how many places I was standing as things seemed so confusing to me mr. chairman I'm going to leave Reed formally into
01:57:28 I'm going to leave Reed formally into the record paragraphs 35 to 40 I won't read them aloud but I will read aloud paragraphs 41 to 43 thank you under further comments it was
01:57:39 thank you under further comments it was not until I had left the tower that I found out that the fire had started in the flat that I lived in and I had been told that the fire probably started in the kitchen and was caused by our fridge
01:57:50 the kitchen and was caused by our fridge freezer I know that some people have said the behavior may have messed around with the fridge I did not see this and don't think he would have done I don't know anything about whether
01:58:02 I don't know anything about whether there was any work done on the fridge I have heard that someone packed their bags before leaving and people said it was B hey Lu but that is not correct it may have been Alma's kin foo I just don't understand
01:58:14 Alma's kin foo I just don't understand why the council would have put the cladding on the building that they did i saw the firefighters putting water on the building but it didn't stop it just carried on burning as though it was a
01:58:25 carried on burning as though it was a gas that caught fire mr. chairman that's the statement of Elsa after work e there
01:58:36 the statement of Elsa after work e there are as ice indicated some exhibits to it yes the first exhibit shown on the screen there now is the plan of the flat
01:58:47 screen there now is the plan of the flat and she indicates what is where on the plan this is exhibit one and you can see that she is indicated that bedroom one was occupied by Alma's kin foo that she
01:59:01 was occupied by Alma's kin foo that she Elsa occupied bedroom two and she's identified where within bedroom two certain items were you can see gang clockwise that there's a TV in the north
01:59:12 clockwise that there's a TV in the north east corner of the bedroom some drawers on the east side a desk in the southeast corner a cupboard in the southwest corner and the bed in the northwest
01:59:23 corner and the bed in the northwest corner of bedroom two and then in the living room she's identified that as behavior could be a bed a space with the sofa in the far west side of the room in
01:59:34 sofa in the far west side of the room in the next exhibit mr. chairman he a tooth might have just asked for that to be shamed thank you this is exhibit two this is a plant of the kitchen and she
01:59:45 this is a plant of the kitchen and she is indicated on it looking clockwise going from the bottom of the plan no table or chairs and then you can see the small fridge and freezer unplugged in
01:59:56 small fridge and freezer unplugged in the left hand on the left hand side next to the window she identified the windowsill nothing stood on it she says a radiator which identifies a mop stroke
02:00:07 a radiator which identifies a mop stroke bucket in the gap between the fridge freezer at the top and the window and then moving on to the right on the south side of the kitchen you have the cooker and next to that kettle and toaster and bin and then
02:00:20 kettle and toaster and bin and then washing machine sink and above the sink in jeera pan on top of kitchen cupboard and she's identified that with the rectangle and then the microwave in the
02:00:31 rectangle and then the microwave in the top right-hand corner of the plan the southwest end of the kitchen just opposite the door as he come in the third exhibit if we could please just have that is a photograph of an injera
02:00:47 have that is a photograph of an injera pan and M tad that is similar to the one that she is described in her statement mr. chairman that is the entirety of
02:01:00 Elsa's statement that she provided to the inquiry except the bits that I didn't read aloud but as I say those are taken as read into the record we then next go if we may please to her police
02:01:12 next go if we may please to her police first police witness statement which is met called Drupal zero six three four one
02:01:19 one that's the relativity reference mess thank you quadruple zero six three four one dated the 18th of June 2017
02:01:37 it contains partial redactions and again although I will be going over ground that can be found in her inquiry statement it's right that I should read it aloud into the record mr. chairman
02:01:51 and I'll start five lines down this statement I make this statement I make refers to the late evening of the 13th of June 2017 and early the early morning
02:02:05 of June 2017 and early the early morning of the 14th of June 2017 when the flat I live in inside Graham felt our London w11 1 T G on fire I live in flat 16 on the fourth floor in
02:02:17 I live in flat 16 on the fourth floor in Grenville tower London W 11 1 T G it would be around 2 years ago that I moved into this flat the other people that live in this flat with me our behavior
02:02:28 live in this flat with me our behavior koobideh and then there's a reduction there is a female who was around redacted years old she is also redacted and has lived at the same flat for about 3 months the flat has two bedrooms and I
02:02:42 3 months the flat has two bedrooms and I will describe the flat as follows upon entering the front door to my flat there is a small hallway area which leads ahead to a bedroom which is slightly to the left of the corridor in front as you walk through I will refer to this
02:02:55 walk through I will refer to this bedroom is dead from one following this to the left of bedroom one is a cupboard area and to the right-hand side of bedroom one next to this bedroom is another bedroom which I will refer to as
02:03:06 another bedroom which I will refer to as bedroom 2 next to bedroom 2 is another room which I will describe as a sitting-room and this room is next to the kitchen but there is a small wooden type sliding door within the sitting
02:03:17 type sliding door within the sitting room
02:03:17 room which can connect to the kitchen but this sliding door is usually kept closed I have drawn a sketch to show this which is exhibited as ela - with all the rooms having windows apart from the bed
02:03:28 having windows apart from the bed bathroom and the separate toilet the kitchen is off of the hallway next to the sitting room and has a door into it from the hallway area but also access
02:03:39 from the hallway area but also access can be gained between the kitchen and the sitting room through the small wooden sliding door as men and I would explain the kitchen in more detail as you walk into this kitchen from the hallway on the right hand side
02:03:51 from the hallway on the right hand side as they sink and then a washing machine next to it further on from the washing machine is a large fridge freezer this is by the far wall area and would almost be directly in front of the line of sight if you were looking into the
02:04:03 sight if you were looking into the kitchen from just outside in the corridor there is a gap next to the side of the fridge freezer before the window on the outer wall which leads back towards the direction of the sitting room please refer to exhibit ela 1 which
02:04:16 room please refer to exhibit ela 1 which I have drawn and towards the sliding wooden door just before the wooden sliding door there is another small fridge and small freezer quite near each other both this fridge and freezer were
02:04:28 other both this fridge and freezer were unplugged and not in use there is a cupboard in the kitchen which is close to the sliding wooden door and by where the small fridge and freezer is the room next to the kitchen is the toilet and
02:04:40 next to the kitchen is the toilet and there is a separate bathroom next to this on the 30th of June 2017 between about 2032 2100 hours I returned home to the flat and remember having a shower I
02:04:52 the flat and remember having a shower I did not see or hear anyone else in the flat at that point but I can't confirm if anyone else was in as I don't usually see thee something women they redacted women woman in the room next to me very
02:05:05 women woman in the room next to me very much and the Hayling sleeps in the sitting room after having a shower I went into the kitchen and made myself a cup of tea and remember using the large fridge to get a slice of bread out after
02:05:17 fridge to get a slice of bread out after the getting the slice of bread out I went to my room which is bedroom 2 and went to bed around 2300 hours my bedroom window was closed I am a heavy sleeper
02:05:28 window was closed I am a heavy sleeper but at some point I heard a noise which I will describe as a banging type noise I thought it may have been a dream at first but as the noise continued I realized it wasn't a dream and remember
02:05:39 realized it wasn't a dream and remember seeing and hearing B Haley at my bedroom door my bedroom door was not locked he was telling me in a loud voice something about smoke I was still half asleep so I picked up my phone and the material type
02:05:51 picked up my phone and the material type cover to put over me and started to walk my bedroom at some point I noticed the redacted lady from bedroom one in the hallway of the flat but I didn't really
02:06:02 hallway of the flat but I didn't really open my eyes the Haley was on his phone I don't know who he was talking to I don't remember if the lights were on in the flat or if there was any smoke or
02:06:14 the flat or if there was any smoke or fire I don't remember smelling anything burning in terms of what I was wearing I wore square pack of pajama bottoms a t-shirt black-and-white slippers and a white sheet around the rest of me after
02:06:27 white sheet around the rest of me after getting past my bedroom door I remember going out into the hallway of the flat and then going towards the front door to my flat to leave I can't recall if the front door to the flat was
02:06:38 recall if the front door to the flat was open or closed as I was still very sleepy but I made my way out of the flat into the communal hallway area of Grenville Tower and think the communal hallway lights were
02:06:50 think the communal hallway lights were on but I don't remember hearing any alarms from anywhere both be hey Lou and the redacted woman were still in the flat when I left when I was going
02:07:01 flat when I left when I was going through the communal hallway area I don't remember seeing any smoke or any fire at that point but I saw some other people near the communal area to my flat I didn't recognize any of those people
02:07:13 I didn't recognize any of those people but I was heading to the stairs still half-asleep although I went to the communal stairs which were close to my flat if you come out of my flat these stairs would be ahead and slightly to the left
02:07:24 the left through a door please refer to my sketch which is exhibited as ela 3 when I got onto the stairs I ran down I don't remember if anyone else was on the
02:07:35 remember if anyone else was on the stairs at this point but I do remember reaching the ground floor and going out of the exit and when I got outside there were people there and firefighters and I noticed the redacted neighbors outside I
02:07:48 noticed the redacted neighbors outside I don't know the names of these people they said something to me like this was from your flat referring to the fire 4 when I got outside I looked back up towards the tower block and saw on the
02:08:00 towards the tower block and saw on the 4th floor there was a fire at my kitchen window I
02:08:04 window I remember it wasn't very long about five minutes but the whole place was on fire I was in shock I was shivering and panicking and didn't know what to do and
02:08:15 panicking and didn't know what to do and was eventually taken by people to the Red Cross at some point I've made a phone call to a friend and stayed with her for the rest of the morning I would like to inform the police that there was
02:08:26 like to inform the police that there was some building work that took place at Grenfell tower but I am unable to say when this was my understanding is that the gas and electric were looked at by workmen in terms of the large fridge in
02:08:38 workmen in terms of the large fridge in my kitchen I can say that there were no electrical problems that I know of and this fridge was working okay and then mr. chairman there are some exhibits to
02:08:50 mr. chairman there are some exhibits to that statement which can be found as ELA one two and three yes which I don't need to ask the trial director to get up on
02:09:01 to ask the trial director to get up on screen they can be read I'll read formally into the record and they can be examined if need be the next
02:09:12 they can be examined if need be the next and last document for Elsa Adler key is her third police witness statement this is relativity number met triple zero one
02:09:24 is relativity number met triple zero one three zero two one dated the 17th of April 2018 and it's very short so I
02:09:36 April 2018 and it's very short so I shall read it all it contains no redactions I am providing the police with a statement regarding a number of questions that were asked of me during
02:09:47 questions that were asked of me during my visit to Granville Tower on Tuesday the 17th of April 2000 of 18 at approximately half past three in the afternoon I was present in flat 16 of
02:09:58 afternoon I was present in flat 16 of Grenville tower along with PC Brian Slater DC Kate Owen and dr. Katherine Broadway DC Owen asked me the following questions and below I gave the following
02:10:09 questions and below I gave the following answers what was stored between the fridge freezer and the kitchen usually the area between the windows and fridge/freezer was stored a plastic red bucket and they wouldn't handle mop and
02:10:20 bucket and they wouldn't handle mop and mop head i cannot say if it was stored there on the night of June 14th where their curtains or blinds at the kitchen window there were no curtains or blinds
02:10:31 window there were no curtains or blinds at the window and nothing was stored on the windowsill I was asked about two small fridges in the kitchen they were positioned on top of one another they
02:10:43 positioned on top of one another they weren't being used and were not plugged in they were positioned under the window in front of the radiator I cannot recall anything being stored on top of them I
02:10:54 anything being stored on top of them I would like to clarify the two fridge freezers did work we just didn't use them and they weren't plugged in I do not know if they were working we just didn't use them I was asked about the
02:11:08 didn't use them I was asked about the sliding doors that divided the kitchen and living room I do not know if they were open or closed at the time of the fire was discovered as I was asleep in bed depending on who was in and what
02:11:19 bed depending on who was in and what people were doing they could be open or closed the living room was used as a bedroom so often the doors would be closed on that night I do not know I can confirm that no one smoked in the flat
02:11:31 confirm that no one smoked in the flat no naked flames ie candles or incense is used in the flat I have been shown three photos of exhibit mg JD 43 I can
02:11:43 photos of exhibit mg JD 43 I can identify this as an enduro making machine that was not used for over two years and was stored above the kitchen units above the sink I have shown DC Cato in a number of images of the insurer maker and then she exhibits two
02:11:57 insurer maker and then she exhibits two photographs a modern version of the injera maker and a more traditional version of the injera maker that she says I would say this image is 95 percent accurate as to the one in flat
02:12:08 percent accurate as to the one in flat 16 I do not know if it was working or not just not used I don't know if it was bought in this country or brought over from Ethiopia these were all the questions asked of me
02:12:20 questions asked of me and then mr. chairman you'll see exhibited to that statement are two photographs of modern injury pans and that mr. chairman concludes the evidence
02:12:31 that mr. chairman concludes the evidence in relation to Elsa and from Elsa after work II give to the inquiry and I can move finally to the evidence of and relating to Alma's kin Fuu I begin with
02:12:45 relating to Alma's kin Fuu I begin with her first police witness statement which is relativity number met quadruple zero six three five zero say met called
02:12:58 six three five zero say met called Drupal zero six three five zero thank you and it's dated the 16th of June 2017
02:13:13 you and it's dated the 16th of June 2017 and it contains a number of redactions which I will indicate as I read through it as I have before I make the statement about a fire in my flat on Wednesday
02:13:25 about a fire in my flat on Wednesday morning the 14th of June 2017 before 1:00 a.m. this is flat 16 on the fourth floor of a block called green field or grenfell tower I arrived in the UK in
02:13:37 grenfell tower I arrived in the UK in 2009 I have er I had arrived from redacted
02:13:42 redacted I came due to employment I was a redacted
02:13:46 redacted I live in flat 16 on the fourth floor of green field or grenfell tower I am not sure of the name it is near to that of a road
02:13:54 road I have lived at the address about three to four months the owner is a man called Bo hello I spoke with a friend of the hey Lou called redacted who said to him
02:14:06 hey Lou called redacted who said to him that they lady has a problem and he asked him to put me there for a while I had redacted number on my phone but left it in the flat redacted worked in
02:14:17 left it in the flat redacted worked in Tesco's on High Street Kensington I think it is now closed so he doesn't work there anymore he now works possibly a near Notting Hill Gate still in Tesco's he has a nice person who is
02:14:28 Tesco's he has a nice person who is helping me I was homeless so he needed somewhere to live but hello said there is no problem you can come and live here it is God's house the flat has two bedrooms a living room
02:14:39 the flat has two bedrooms a living room a kitchen and a bathroom my room is straight in front as you go in when you continue inside there is another room there is also a kitchen the living room
02:14:50 there is also a kitchen the living room and kitchen are near one another there is also a lady Elsa who lived there when I moved in and still does they give me money some some money for food I did not
02:15:02 money some some money for food I did not pay to live in number 16 but Hillary let me stay there a short term for free I don't know Elsa pays for me my hello is the owner of the flat I don't know how long hello
02:15:14 of the flat I don't know how long hello or Elsa have stayed there for on Wednesday morning 14th of June 2017 the three of us were there when the fire happened I'm not sure of the time but it
02:15:27 happened I'm not sure of the time but it was before 1:00 a.m. I was sleeping in the room by myself as I sleep early before going to bed Elsa redacted and the door was closed in the other bedroom
02:15:39 the door was closed in the other bedroom I took some tea in the kitchen and went to my room I went to bed around 10:00 p.m. I think redacted I'm not sure if pillow was in or not as I didn't see him
02:15:50 pillow was in or not as I didn't see him there was nothing out of the ordinary in the flat at the time I'm not sure of the time but be Hillier knocked at the door I jumped on the bed after he said come out come out to me I was shocked and
02:16:02 out come out to me I was shocked and said what is going on and he said fire fire and fridge fridge I heard him calling Elsa - he was saying Elsa Elsa
02:16:14 calling Elsa - he was saying Elsa Elsa get out there was a smell and smoke it was dark in the flat when we were trying to get out but there was light in the corridor the hen who said the fridge was
02:16:26 corridor the hen who said the fridge was on fire I also had a small clothes bag with me it was packed near to my door as I always kept it there and I grabbed it on my way out at that time I didn't see
02:16:39 on my way out at that time I didn't see the fire I wasn't in the kitchen but hilly was calling the fire brigade and say
02:16:44 say come on as quickly as you can the hilly was there knocking on every door on the floor after he was knocking on the neighbors telling everyone to get out I don't know any of the neighbors I was so
02:16:57 don't know any of the neighbors I was so shocked oh I remember as ba Hilliard knocking on the doors I heard four Hillier calling nine nine nine and asking for help and saying there was a fire he was also saying fridge and smoke on the phone I am aware
02:17:11 fridge and smoke on the phone I am aware to call nine nine nine for help I don't remember if I have heard but he'll who speak English before I speak to be hello in my language Amharic the hill was wearing a white tee
02:17:24 Amharic the hill was wearing a white tee shoot from t-shirt Elsa was in pajamas I don't remember what color I was shocked I keep a bag with me with clothes in my room I took it outside the flat with me
02:17:35 room I took it outside the flat with me and other people took it down the stairs for me I didn't see if Elsa or B Hill who had any bags or anything else with them a young male took it down for me and gave it to me at the bottom I don't
02:17:48 and gave it to me at the bottom I don't know him
02:17:48 know him I didn't heard any fire alarm while I was on the stairs there were lights on the stairs everyone was running down the stairs most of them were frightened
02:17:59 stairs most of them were frightened shouted chatting and crying people came and we came out of the building and could see fire coming out of the block people were shouting and calling one
02:18:10 people were shouting and calling one another and making phone calls it was in minutes that the fire was going up towards the top of the building I was grieving when I saw people that were moving at the top of the flats I was
02:18:23 moving at the top of the flats I was crying until morning then a person asked me what had happened and I told him the house I was staying with was on fire he took me by car I said where - I said
02:18:35 took me by car I said where - I said South Kensington as there are people I know there I went to an old lady I know I don't know the man that drove me the only time I met him was there he is an old mature person a black man I
02:18:47 he is an old mature person a black man I don't know his name he was on the outside but he was outside the building where people were gathering I wouldn't know how to get in touch with him again I didn't see anything else similar hat in the flat before I think there are two
02:18:59 in the flat before I think there are two fridges one but he'll who doesn't use there could be a freezer I don't know all three of us use one fridge as long as I have lived at the flat there have been no issues with the fridge before it
02:19:11 been no issues with the fridge before it was working normally I don't know where but he'll who got the fridge from or how old it was there are sockets to put plugs into in the kitchen but I don't know other than that if there are lots of plugs in one
02:19:23 that if there are lots of plugs in one socket or anything I looked at printouts of exhibit ml 1 ml 2 and ml 3 and they are correct apart from the names on the bedrooms my bedroom was the one furthest
02:19:34 bedrooms my bedroom was the one furthest from the living room and the bedroom between mine and the living room was elses so that is Alma's confuse a police
02:19:46 elses so that is Alma's confuse a police statement but we next go mr. chairman to the statement which miss Kim foo provided to the inquiry yes thank you
02:19:57 provided to the inquiry yes thank you and that is relativity reference iws
02:20:02 five zeros so zero zero zero zero zero four five seven
02:20:12 and she signed it under a statement of truth on the 25th of May 2018 for the inquiry it contains no redactions and
02:20:24 inquiry it contains no redactions and it's quite short but I shall read it all my name is Alma skin Fuu and I previously lived at sixteen grenfell tower attached to this statement are a
02:20:35 tower attached to this statement are a number of documents which are exhibited as a k1 I have had an opportunity to read the statement I gave to the police dated 16th of June 2017 and I confirm
02:20:46 dated 16th of June 2017 and I confirm that it is an accurate account of my recollection of the events of the 14th of June 2017 I have been asked to produce this additional statement in response to a number of questions asked
02:20:57 response to a number of questions asked by the Grenfell tower inquiry team at the time of the fire on the 14th of June 2017 I had lived in Grenville tower for
02:21:08 2017 I had lived in Grenville tower for three to four months I shared the flat with Elsa and the Halley exhibited to this statement is a document marked a k1 or a which is a plan of a flat at
02:21:21 or a which is a plan of a flat at sixteen Grenville tower I confirmed that I slept in the bedroom which is marked bedroom one I have been shown a plan of the kitchen in sixteen grenfell tower
02:21:32 the kitchen in sixteen grenfell tower which is exhibited to this statement and marked a k1 B I have marked on that document an X which indicates the position of a small fridge the fridge
02:21:43 position of a small fridge the fridge was situated under the window I did not use the small fridge all of us in the flat used the tall fridge freezer which was to the left of the cooker I do not
02:21:54 was to the left of the cooker I do not remember there being any problems with the tall fridge freezer in between the fridge freezer and the window was a small space in which we kept a cleaning brush there was no other furniture or
02:22:06 brush there was no other furniture or cupboards around the window I cannot recall anything being kept on the windowsill I have been shown a photograph which is exhibited to this statement as a k1c this photograph was
02:22:19 statement as a k1c this photograph was taken after the fire and it is of an object which appears to be a large pan I do not remember seeing that pan before the fire and I did not use it on the
02:22:31 the fire and I did not use it on the night of the fire I came home and made a cup of tea in the kitchen I used the kettle I then went to my room and went to sleep I was awoken by the noise of Behe new
02:22:43 I was awoken by the noise of Behe new knocking on my bedroom door I don't know what time it was the hailer said fire fire fridge fridge I opened the bedroom door and I could smell something different not normal air
02:22:56 smell something different not normal air different it was like a burning smell and like a chemical smell and I could taste it
02:23:01 taste it I could not smell it in my room when the door was closed I went into the corridor of the flat and saw smoke the smoke was near to the front door which is at the other end of the corridor from the
02:23:13 other end of the corridor from the kitchen I could still see the front door I was shocked and I can't recall if I could see the other end of the corridor near the kitchen the lights in the flat were off but light was coming in through
02:23:25 were off but light was coming in through the front door and everything seemed cloudy two firemen came to the flat and they brought equipment with them I was shocked and didn't know what to do my
02:23:36 shocked and didn't know what to do my suitcase was near the door in my bedroom and I quickly picked it up as I had some clothes in it I went into the lobby I don't remember if there was smoke in the lobby I went to the stairs and saw two
02:23:49 lobby I went to the stairs and saw two armed and go into the flat I thought perhaps the firemen might be able to put the fire out I saw people running down the stairs and so I thought I should leave I had my suitcase with me and a man asked if I
02:24:01 suitcase with me and a man asked if I needed help there was a smell on the stairs and I think there was smoke on the stairs I had been shown two photographs which are exhibited to this
02:24:13 photographs which are exhibited to this statement and there are under marked a K 1 D and E I confirm that photograph D shows me reaching the bottom of the stairs the man in the red top was
02:24:24 stairs the man in the red top was holding my suitcase as he helped me with it down the stairs photograph e shows the man handing the suitcase back to me the timing on the bottom left-hand corner of photograph e
02:24:35 corner of photograph e his recorded that one 10:51 on 14th of June 2017 now mr. chairman would then go
02:24:46 June 2017 now mr. chairman would then go to go finally to a series of CCTV images taken outside the boxing club which are
02:24:57 taken outside the boxing club which are and I'll give the reference relatives your number inq and then five 0s are six zeros zero zero zero zero zero zero five nine in the series from 5-9 to 91 there are a
02:25:12 the series from 5-9 to 91 there are a large number of them and I'm going to run through these because they show quite graphically this sequence of
02:25:23 quite graphically this sequence of movements of individuals outside the boxing club at various times and they include the photographs to which Alma's
02:25:35 include the photographs to which Alma's config has just spoken now can we start then with the first of the first of these which is inq 59 I'm not sure that
02:25:48 these which is inq 59 I'm not sure that yes thank you very much that's inq 59 and again so far as the time is concerned there's an adjustment that needs to be made to the time stamp which
02:25:59 needs to be made to the time stamp which one sees on the top right hand corner again the time stamp is not absolutely precise and therefore will still remain to be finally verified but you'll see
02:26:11 to be finally verified but you'll see from that one that the time stamp on it is o 1 0-0 39 and you have to make a deduction from that of some 4 minutes
02:26:25 deduction from that of some 4 minutes and 30 seconds that's certainly the Metropolitan Police's estimate or the deduction you have to make and that would give you a time of 5609 so midnight so zeros area 5609 and
02:26:40 5609 so midnight so zeros area 5609 and what I'll do as I go through these is to give them to give those adjusted time but with the caveat that the adjustments are still not absolutely 100% verifiable verified so that's the first and you can
02:26:54 verified so that's the first and you can see Elsa there on the landing just before the stairs leading down into the lobby outside the boxing club on floor to the next one is mr. Kubik mr. Kaiba
02:27:11 to the next one is mr. Kubik mr. Kaiba day in the same position at 0-0 57 and 59 seconds the next one is mr. Cobb a day having
02:27:24 the next one is mr. Cobb a day having just gone down into the stairs with his phone attached to his ear at 0-0 58 o - as the adjusted time the next one is a
02:27:38 as the adjusted time the next one is a group of people on the landing there and you can see the silver suitcase on wheels with some clothing attached to it and some individuals at the time
02:27:50 and some individuals at the time adjusted there is 0 0 58 12 the next one is Alma's kin foo talking with it looks
02:28:05 is Alma's kin foo talking with it looks like the woman who helped her carry it down at the top of the stairs and the adjusted time for that is 0 0 58 and 15
02:28:15 the next one is
02:28:21 miss confute standing on the stairs and then mr. chairman behind her on the landing you can see the suitcase on wheels upright with some clothing attached to it at the top and Miss
02:28:34 attached to it at the top and Miss confuse on the stairs with the backpack and the time for that is zero zero fifty fifty nine and thirty four including that adjustment the next one is a very
02:28:47 that adjustment the next one is a very similar photograph taken four seconds later adjusted time is zero zero 5938 and you can see that she is on the
02:29:00 and you can see that she is on the stairs the next one you can go to it is her sitting on the stairs and that is zero zero 5938 and again the suitcase
02:29:16 zero zero 5938 and again the suitcase still in sit to you and then the next one is at adjusted time 1 0 0 10
02:29:36 and if we can move to the next one
02:29:44 we have this one I think at one zero zero fifteen and they're living go to the next one
02:30:00 this is at an adjusted time of oh one oh one 24 and it looks as if Miss confuse gone back up the stairs and is standing at the top looking down with the
02:30:11 at the top looking down with the suitcase next to her still in place and then the next one is at an adjusted time
02:30:22 then the next one is at an adjusted time of oh one oh one forty and Alma's Kim Fuu is sitting at the top of the stairs and she sits there for some time and again the suitcase is still in the same place the next one is an adjusted time
02:30:38 place the next one is an adjusted time of oh one oh one 56 she's standing next to her suitcase as somebody passes by her to go down and she remained standing
02:30:50 her to go down and she remained standing by that suitcase for some time it gives the next one
02:31:00 that is an adjusted time of oh one oh two twenty-five
02:31:09 and you can actually just make out mr. Kubelik coming through the front door at the bottom it's been difficult to see but you can if you go to the next one please
02:31:19 please that's at an adjusted time of oh one zero to thirty three and you can still see the suitcase still in the same position and miss Kim food next to it
02:31:31 position and miss Kim food next to it and just in front of the suitcase you can see a an officer of the London Fire Brigade carrying the heavy pack there
02:31:43 Brigade carrying the heavy pack there and another officer on the stairs if you please go to the next one
02:31:52 that's at O 101 o 235 adjusted and you can see that Miss Kim foo has been
02:32:03 can see that Miss Kim foo has been passed by by the London Fire Brigade and the woman who first helped her with her suitcase but she's still there and the suitcase is still in place the next one is o 1 o 2 38 adjusted you could see the
02:32:19 is o 1 o 2 38 adjusted you could see the officers of the London Fire Brigade disappearing down the landing with somebody holding an object in their hands we'll have to explore what that is in evidence but she had for present
02:32:32 in evidence but she had for present purposes still standing by her suitcase at the top of the stairs if you look at the next one please
02:32:44 yes this the adjusted time for this is o 1 o 2 44 and still miss confer is standing by my suitcase if we go to the
02:32:57 standing by my suitcase if we go to the next one
02:33:06 if you're still there and the suitcase is still in position that the time for that adjusted is a 102 48
02:33:22 and forget to the next one the adjusted time for this is a 102 55 and Miskin foo is still standing by her suitcase
02:33:36 and if we go to the next one please the adjusted time for this is a 102 57 and this kin foo still by her suitcase is
02:33:47 this kin foo still by her suitcase is being spoken to or having a conversation with somebody at the top of the stairs a lady if you go to the next one please
02:34:00 the adjusted time for this is oh one oh three oh one
02:34:10 and she's still at the top of the stairs the next one is an adjusted time yes thank you of O one o 329 as keen food
02:34:23 thank you of O one o 329 as keen food remains at the top of the stairs as the lady descends possibly with somebody else and then the next one which is adjusted time or o 103 34 was king food
02:34:38 adjusted time or o 103 34 was king food still at the top of the stairs with her suitcase and then the next one please she descends the staircase they're still leaving her suitcase at the top the adjusted time for that is a 104 35 they
02:34:54 adjusted time for that is a 104 35 they forget to the next one this is an adjusted time of oh one oh five oh two now he'll make the suitcase still in the
02:35:05 now he'll make the suitcase still in the same position and Alma's kin food reappearing and coming back up if we go to the next one please the adjusted time for that is over 106
02:35:17 the adjusted time for that is over 106 18 and Alma's kin foo reappears and sits on the stairs as you can see her clearly waiting for something and then at what the next one please
02:35:28 the next one please Oh 107 42 is the adjusted time and you can see her still sitting on the stairs she's just been passed by somebody looks
02:35:39 she's just been passed by somebody looks like a man I can't quite tell just going past her and the suitcase still sitting at the top of the stairs and it's now customary position next one please
02:35:51 customary position next one please an adjusted time over 109 oh seven suitcase still there the bottom part of the fireman and the top of the corner of
02:36:02 the fireman and the top of the corner of another farm in gained past unless confer on the stairs and she's still sitting there the next one please that adjusted time of a 109 20 and she's
02:36:14 that adjusted time of a 109 20 and she's now back standing at the top of the stairs with the suitcase next to her still in this same position the next one please is adjusted time of oh one Oh 938 where the suitcase has now
02:36:28 oh one Oh 938 where the suitcase has now been lifted by somebody in a red top this is the person she describes as a male she has it's standing next to the suitcase on the Left wearing her
02:36:39 suitcase on the Left wearing her backpack and there is somebody with the male standing behind him the next one please and the adjusted time for that is over 109 fifty-eight and we can see from
02:36:53 over 109 fifty-eight and we can see from that the London Fire Brigade have come up the stairs there are four members of the London Fire Brigade there on the landing and that almas Kim fook has just
02:37:05 landing and that almas Kim fook has just gone down and they could be made out just at the bottom left-hand corner it's a dark shadow going down the next set of stairs down where the arrow is and then
02:37:17 stairs down where the arrow is and then finally the last one in this series at an adjusted time of Oh 110 13 the group
02:37:29 an adjusted time of Oh 110 13 the group with a mask in foo can just be made up leaving the side door on the bottom left where there's a flash of image and a reflect and a reflection in the glass only so that that completes the sequence
02:37:44 only so that that completes the sequence of images with the chart the times adjusted subject to the caveat Oh given which tells in graphic terms there's the sort story of the suitcase if I can put
02:37:55 sort story of the suitcase if I can put it that way and Alma's is exit from the tower mr. chairman that concludes the material that I wish to read and allowed up to
02:38:08 that I wish to read and allowed up to the inquiry there is next and finally a series of references I should give formally to read into the record I shall do this by reference if I may just to
02:38:20 do this by reference if I may just to the description of it it's date and it's relativity number and years are these are when I've read them into the record
02:38:31 are when I've read them into the record formally there are open to the public to view and they go through and they go onto our website yes and I start with mr. kuberdas second 999 audio call 14th
02:38:43 mr. kuberdas second 999 audio call 14th of June 2017 met triple zero one four eight eight four next mr capa days third
02:38:57 eight eight four next mr capa days third nine nine nine core audio which i think in fact you've heard this morning and that has actually been a read aloud so that's in the record
02:39:08 next is the further witness statement of the amharic translator for the second nine nine nine call and that is date of the 23rd of March 2018 and it's met zero
02:39:20 the 23rd of March 2018 and it's met zero zero zero one two six nine seven the next one is a CCTV image of mystic Abed a leaving the tower dated the 14th of
02:39:32 a leaving the tower dated the 14th of June 2017 and the relativity number is met zero zero zero zero zero zero zero five the next one is photographs from
02:39:48 five the next one is photographs from mr. Capades phone dated the 14th of June 2017 which is met zero zero zero zero eight three three four o through two
02:40:02 eight three three four o through two eight three three five three
02:40:09 and can I also read in other CCTV images of mr. Capelli leaving the tower selected by the inquiry from footage
02:40:22 selected by the inquiry from footage dated the 14th of June 2017 and those are references inq 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 through
02:40:36 are references inq 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 through 258 and then finally in that series videos from mr. Capades phone dated the
02:40:52 videos from mr. Capades phone dated the 14th of June 2017 and it's met zero zero zero zero eight three three five four through two eight three three six three and then mr. kuberdas first police
02:41:06 and then mr. kuberdas first police witness statement date of the 14th of June 2017 met zero zero zero zero seven three four zero and then bek one two
02:41:19 three four zero and then bek one two that with the statement 14th of June 2017 met zero zero zero zero five one eight nine and then bek two to that
02:41:30 eight nine and then bek two to that witness statement 14th of June 2017 met zero zero zero zero five one nine zero and then the first offers to Hobart his
02:41:42 and then the first offers to Hobart his police interview transcripts 14th of June 2017 met zero zero zero zero eight zero five eight one and then the
02:41:53 zero five eight one and then the transcript of his second police interview 14th of June 2017 met zero zero zero zero eight zero five eight two
02:42:05 and then mr. Capades third police interview transcript 16th of June 2017 met zero zero zero zero eight far eight
02:42:16 met zero zero zero zero eight far eight zero I'll read that again met zero zero zero zero eight zero five eight three and then the exhibits to miss ever work
02:42:28 and then the exhibits to miss ever work his first police witness statement dated the 18th of June 2017 ela one met zero zero zero zero five nine
02:42:39 zero zero zero five nine I'm sorry again I'll read that again met zero zero zero zero five one nine one and then exhibit ela two to the same police witness statement 18th of June
02:42:52 police witness statement 18th of June 2017
02:42:53 2017 met zero zero zero zero five one nine two and then exhibit three to that witness statement dated 18th of June 2017 met zero zero zero zero five one
02:43:06 2017 met zero zero zero zero five one nine three and then mr. kuberdas third police witness statement fourth of October 2017 met zero zero zero zero
02:43:17 October 2017 met zero zero zero zero seven three three nine next is mr. Keyes second police witness statement dated the 12th of November 2017 met zero zero
02:43:30 the 12th of November 2017 met zero zero zero zero seven nine three four and then we have mr. kuberdas fifth police witness statement which formally speaks
02:43:41 witness statement which formally speaks to the CCTV footage 13th of December 2017 met zero zero zero zero eight zero to nine and then we have the exhibits to
02:43:56 to nine and then we have the exhibits to mr. Coupet a sixth police witness statement dated the 5th of April 2018 exhibit three is met zero zero zero one
02:44:07 exhibit three is met zero zero zero one two nine eight three and then exhibit four fifth of April 2018 met zero zero zero one two nine
02:44:18 zero one two nine four and then exhibit five dated the 18th of April of 2018 met zero zero zero one two nine eight five and then exhibit
02:44:31 one two nine eight five and then exhibit six fifth of April 2018 net zero zero zero one two nine eight six we then have the tenth exhibit to his statement dated
02:44:45 the tenth exhibit to his statement dated the 5th of April 2018 at met zero zero zero one two nine eight - I read aloud his eighth witness statement dated the
02:44:56 his eighth witness statement dated the 25th of May 2018 and gave the reference to it I shall now give the references to some of the exhibits to it the first is
02:45:07 some of the exhibits to it the first is the fit is exhibit 5 25th of May 2018 met zero zero zero one two nine eight five exhibit 11 dated the 25th of May
02:45:18 five exhibit 11 dated the 25th of May 2018 met zero zero zero one seven zero four nine next is 25th of May 2018 exhibit six met zero zero zero one two
02:45:30 exhibit six met zero zero zero one two nine eight six and then we have an exhibit three from the same witness statement met zero zero zero one two
02:45:43 statement met zero zero zero one two nine eight three and finally exhibit eight date of the 25th of May 2018 met zero zero zero one two nine eight eight
02:45:59 mr. Chen would you just give me gotten a bit when I consult with miss Grange was
02:46:10 bit when I consult with miss Grange was great just reminded me rightly that I have not read in and I should the exhibits to miss confuse inquiry witness statement and I'll give those now they're the 28th of the 25th 24th of May
02:46:21 they're the 28th of the 25th 24th of May 2018 and a k1a is iws zero zero zero zero zero six ten six one though in fact
02:46:33 zero zero six ten six one though in fact they're all they've all got the same number I'm glad to say so I don't have to read out and the serial numbers I'll just repeat it so that everybody's clear that they can all be found in the same place there are five of them I WS zero
02:46:44 place there are five of them I WS zero zero zero zero zero six one zero and mr. chairman that concludes the evidence for flat 16 which I intend to read into the
02:46:56 flat 16 which I intend to read into the record good thank you very much so that's probably a convenient move it is a very convenient moment thank you and will we will resume if we may after the lunch break with very brief evidence from the first factual witness to the
02:47:09 from the first factual witness to the inquiry mr. Andrew Bell of the London Fire Brigade who is simply going to put some documents into the inquiry record and answer one or two questions about them thank you well then we'll break now
02:47:20 them thank you well then we'll break now and resume at 2 o'clock please
02:47:33 you