Home UK Trio deny murdering four children in house fire

Trio deny murdering four children in house fire

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Four children were murdered as they slept in their bedrooms when their house was hit by lit petrol bombs, a court has been told.

Demi Pearson, 15, her brother Brandon, eight, and sister Lacie, aged seven, were pulled lifeless from the wreckage of their home after a petrol bomb blocked the only exit to the ground floor, trapping them upstairs.

Their younger sister, Lia, aged three, and mother Michelle Pearson, 35, were rescued, but Lia died in hospital.

Image:Michelle Pearson is in a serious condition in hospital

Zak Bolland, 23, launched the fatal attack on their home in Walkden, Manchester after a feud with the victims' 16-year-old brother, prosecutors told the court on Tuesday morning.

He and David Worrall, 25, removed a fence panel from the garden of the Pearson home before smashing a kitchen window and throwing in two petrol bombs, it is alleged.

The attack is alleged to have been part of a tit-for-tat between Bolland and the victims' older brother Kyle Pearson, who managed to escape the flames with a friend who had been staying at the house.

Demi Pearson was the oldest of the children to die in the fire
Image:Demi Pearson was the oldest of the children to die in the fire

The 16-year-old saw the light from his sister Demi's mobile phone in a window of the house before she coughed in the thick smoke and appeared to fall away from the window.

Bolland and Kyle had been friends, the prosecution said, until the accused's car had been set on fire, and he believed Kyle to be responsible.

Bolland is said to have sent harassing text messages demanding £500, before both sides launched attacks, breaking windows in each other's homes.

Bolland threatened to firebomb the Pearson home, leading Mrs Pearson to call the police, and have a letter box cover fitted by the fire brigade.

Brandon and Lacie Pearson died at the scene of the fire
Image:Brandon and Lacie Pearson died at the scene of the fire

An "apparent misunderstanding" meant no police action was taken against Bolland over the threats, and he was released "laughing", the court heard.

Mrs Pearson asked for a restraining order but two days before the deaths of her children, her bin was set on fire and the word "grass" was spray painted on her house.

The jury at Manchester Crown Court heard that Bolland and Worrall had been drinking with Bolland's girlfriend Courtney Briarley the day before the arson attack, before making their first trip to Jackson Street on 11 December at 12.30am, four hours before the fire.

Bolland and Worrall attacked the door, and Bolland shouted: "Watch, all your family's getting it, they're all gonna die."

Lia Pearson died in hospital
Image:Lia Pearson died in hospital

Kyle was "really worried" they would return, and wedged another door to his front door to try to prevent an attack.

Bolland, Briarley, 20, and Worrall all deny four counts of murder.

They also deny three counts of attempted murder against Ms Pearson, Kyle Pearson and Bobby Harris.

More from Greater Manchester

Bolland has admitted reckless arson, which Briarley and Worrall have denied.

The trial continues.

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