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Brother jailed for blaze killings Brother jailed for blaze killings
(about 1 hour later)
A teenager who killed his two sisters when he set fire to his family's Tyneside home has been jailed.A teenager who killed his two sisters when he set fire to his family's Tyneside home has been jailed.
Shane Spence doused the living room sofa in petrol before starting the blaze, which killed Tatum Leah, 14, and 12-year-old Demi-Jade. Shane Spence, 18, doused the living room sofa in petrol before starting the blaze, which killed Tatum Leah, 14, and Demi-Jade, 12, in South Shields.
The 18-year-old was found guilty of manslaughter and arson at Newcastle Crown Court in February. He was sentenced to a minimum six year jail term for the attack in Lisle Road.
On Monday, he was sentenced to a minimum six year jail term for the attack in Lisle Road, South Shields. His father John, 37, maintains his son is innocent and is offering a £25,000 reward to help catch the person he believes is the culprit.
Spence had denied starting the fire, but was convicted of the April 2007 blaze after a three-week trial. The teenager had denied starting the fire at Lisle Road but was convicted of manslaughter and arson at Newcastle Crown Court after a three-week trial in February.
Post-mortem tests found both girls died of smoke inhalation and burnsPost-mortem tests found both girls died of smoke inhalation and burns
He was cleared of the attempted murder of his parents, John and Anita, both 37, who escaped the fire. He was cleared of the attempted murder of his parents who escaped the fire in April last year.
During the trial, the court heard how the teenager, who did not live at the house, crept into the ex-council property after telling a friend he was popping back to pick up a CD. During the trial, the court heard how Spence, who did not live at the house, crept into the ex-council property after telling a friend he was popping back to pick up a CD.
He then started the fire, which ripped through the house in minutes, before returning to the friend's house to watch a film.He then started the fire, which ripped through the house in minutes, before returning to the friend's house to watch a film.
The court heard Spence's life had been "in a state of turmoil" at the time of the incident.The court heard Spence's life had been "in a state of turmoil" at the time of the incident.
Prosecutor, Alistair MacDonald QC said the teenager had attempted suicide a few days earlier, after an argument in which he pushed his girlfriend, the mother of his one-year-old daughter. Prosecutor Alistair MacDonald QC said the teenager had attempted suicide a few days earlier after an argument in which he pushed his girlfriend, the mother of his one-year-old daughter.
'Completely satisfied'
He had also recently given up his job, which Mr MacDonald said was much to his father's "disgust".He had also recently given up his job, which Mr MacDonald said was much to his father's "disgust".
John Spence, 37, who sustained 42% burns trying to rescue his children, claims his son has been "set up" by police.
Speaking after the trial, he said: "The verdict was what we expected, but the campaign still goes on. The lad is innocent."
Det Ch Insp Mick Paterson, of Northumbria Police, responding to Mr Spence's claims, said he was "completely satisfied" with the investigation.
He said: "We heard today there was compelling evidence of how the fire was started and how thorough police investigative work lasted many, many months."
The sisters died in their bedrooms of smoke inhalation and burns, a post-mortem examination found.The sisters died in their bedrooms of smoke inhalation and burns, a post-mortem examination found.
A charred petrol can was found by investigators in the lounge of the family's home.A charred petrol can was found by investigators in the lounge of the family's home.