Connecticut man pleads not guilty to setting girlfriend on fire, trying to burn her daughter

Conn. man pleads not guilty to burning girlfriend

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A Connecticut man has pleaded not guilty to charges he set his girlfriend on fire and tried to set her 12-year-old daughter ablaze.

Fifty-year-old Howard Stewart of New Haven appeared in court Tuesday. He’s charged with arson, assault and other crimes.

Police say Stewart doused 35-year-old Christina Lee and her daughter with an accelerant and set Lee on fire on Nov. 15. They say the girl had accused Stewart of abusing her and he argued with Lee about the allegation.

Lee remains hospitalized with burns on about 40 percent of her body. Police say the girl escaped unharmed and rescued the 3-month-old daughter of Lee and Stewart from the burning house.

Stewart is to return to court Dec. 9. He’s being held on $2 million bail.

Information from: WTNH-TV, www.wtnh.com