28/02/2013

Trial Hears Derby Fire Accused 'Rehearsed The Act'

The trial of the three accused of starting a house fire that killed six children, has heard that they rehearsed the act six weeks earlier.

Nottingham Crown Court heard from a witness that the alleged plan was for Mr and Mrs Philpott to run into the road and shout for help.

Witness Melissa John told the court that co-accused Paul Mosley would then kick in the door at the house in Allenton, Derby to rescue the children.

Ms John is understood to be the girlfriend of Paul Mosley’s nephew and claims Mosley outlined the plan, which included Mrs Philpott taking the blame for the fire.

Six of the Philpott’s children died in the fire at their home on Victory Road.

Jade Philpott, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, died in the fire. Their brother Duwayne, 13, died later in hospital.

Mick Philpott, 56, wife Mairead, 31 and Paul Mosley, 46, deny six counts of manslaughter.

The trial of Mr and Mrs Philpott, formerly of Victory Road, and Mr Mosley, of Cecil Street, Derby, continues.

(H/GK)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

29 November 2013
Court Rejects Mairead Philpott Appeal
Mairead Philpott has lost her appeal over her sentence for the killing of six children in a house fire in Derby. Mrs Philpott was sentenced to 17 years in jail for manslaughter. Her husband Mick Philpott was jailed for life and a friend, Paul Mosley, was also jailed for 17 years.
19 March 2013
Jury Hears It's "Possible" Michael Philpott Started Fatal Fire
A jury has heard it is “possible” that Michael Philpott started the fire the killed six of his children. Mairead Philpott, Michael’s wife and co-accused in the manslaughter trial said her husband could have got up in the night and set the fire without her knowledge, the BBC have reported.
14 March 2013
Trial Hears Philpott Explain Petrol On Clothes
Michael Philpott has claimed that petrol was found on his clothes because he did not shower or bath for twelve weeks.
30 September 2013
Demolition Work Begins On Philpott House
Demolition work has got underway at the former home of Mick and Mairead Philpott, in which six of their children died in a house fire. A bulldozer is on site and the demolition of 18 Victory Road is underway, Derby City Council have said. The adjoining property, number 20, has already been knocked down.
05 November 2012
Children Fire Death Arrests Made
Two men have been arrested in connection with a house fire that killed six children in May, according to Derbyshire Police. The two men, aged 45 and 49, are being questioned over the fire in Victory Road.