Barry Winters Charged With Murder After Lighting Evelyn Spodnik, New Hampshire Woman, On Fire

LITTLETON, N.H., Dec 27 (Reuters) - A New Hampshire man whoallegedly killed the woman he lived with by lighting her onfire before setting himself ablaze was arrested on Tuesdayahead of his release from a Boston hospital.

Barry Winters will be charged with first degree murderafter dousing 57-year-old Evelyn Spodnik, a reading teacherfrom the small town of Wentworth, with gasoline and lightingher on fire June 29, the New Hampshire attorney general'soffice said in a statement.

Spodnik, who fled to a neighbor's house to seek help, diedof her wounds July 1, Jane Young, a state prosecutor, said inan interview.

"(Winters) was not arrested previously because of hishealth," said Young.

"Police have been able to monitor his condition," shesaid.

Winters was scheduled to appear in court in Boston onTuesday and could return to New Hampshire shortly to facecharges. If convicted, Winters will likely not face the deathpenalty as the crime does not appear to fit into one of thecategories covered by New Hampshire's death penalty law, Youngsaid. (Reporting by Jason McLure; Editing by Lauren Keiper and JerryNorton)