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Salford house fire: Pair in court over murder of three children | Salford house fire: Pair in court over murder of three children |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Two people charged with murder over the deaths of three children in a house fire in Salford have appeared in court. | Two people charged with murder over the deaths of three children in a house fire in Salford have appeared in court. |
Zac Bolland, 23, and Courtney Brierley, 20, both of Worsley, Salford were also charged with arson and four counts of attempted murder. | Zac Bolland, 23, and Courtney Brierley, 20, both of Worsley, Salford were also charged with arson and four counts of attempted murder. |
They were remanded in custody until their next appearance. | |
Demi Pearson, 14, Brandon, eight, and Lacie, seven, died in the blaze on Monday. Their mother Michelle and a three-year-old remain in hospital. | |
Mr Bolland, of Blackleach Drive, and Ms Brierley, of Worsley Avenue, did not apply for bail and are listed to appear at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday. | |
Two men, aged 19 and 20, arrested on suspicion of murder have been released on police bail. | |
A 24-year-old man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has also been bailed. | A 24-year-old man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has also been bailed. |
The three-year-old, who cannot be named due to their age, is in a critical condition in hospital following the fire at a property in Walkden, which broke out at about 05:00 GMT. | |
Ms Pearson, 35, has been heavily sedated and has not yet been told about the deaths of her children. | |
Two 16-year-olds - who also can not be named for legal reasons - in the house at the time of the blaze managed to escape. | |
Greater Manchester Police confirmed there had been incidents at the family's home prior to the blaze and it had referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). | |
'Really good kid' | |
Drew Povey, head teacher at Harrop Fold School, Worsley, which Demi attended, paid tribute to the popular pupil. | |
He said she was a "really good kid… fun-loving… and funny". | |
"Inside school [her] friendship group was enormous. | |
"I don't know anyone that didn't really get on well with her… and it was the same outside of school as well," he added. |