This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/8350180.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Men jailed for £15 debt murders Men jailed for £15 debt murders
(20 minutes later)
Two men found guilty of starting a fire that killed a 17-year-old girl and her grandmother in London have been jailed for life, with a minimum of 25 years.Two men found guilty of starting a fire that killed a 17-year-old girl and her grandmother in London have been jailed for life, with a minimum of 25 years.
Jake Sheehan, 20, of Bethnal Green, and David Philip, 19, from Bow, had denied murdering the pair over a £15 debt.Jake Sheehan, 20, of Bethnal Green, and David Philip, 19, from Bow, had denied murdering the pair over a £15 debt.
Shannen Vickers and Pauline Adams, 57, were asleep when petrol was poured through the letterbox of their flat in Mile End in February and set alight.Shannen Vickers and Pauline Adams, 57, were asleep when petrol was poured through the letterbox of their flat in Mile End in February and set alight.
Sheehan and Philip were convicted of two counts of murder at the Old Bailey.Sheehan and Philip were convicted of two counts of murder at the Old Bailey.
The flat on the fifth floor of Malmesbury House in Cyprus Street, Bethnal Green, was set alight after Philip and Sheehan had a row with Mrs Adams' grandson, who also lived there, over a £15 debt. The flat on the fifth floor of Malmesbury House in Cyprus Street, Bethnal Green, was set alight after Philip and Sheehan had a row with Mrs Adams' grandson, who also lived there, over the debt.
Screams heard At the end of the row Philip shouted "we are going to burn your house down". He went on to carry out his threat by pouring petrol through the letterbox and igniting it.
At the end of the row Philip had shouted "we are going to burn your house down" - and went on to carry out his threat, by pouring petrol through the flat's letterbox and igniting it. They were both overcome by the smoke and the fumes and they died together, lying side by side Simon Denison QC, prosecuting
But only Shannen and her grandmother were in the flat at the time.But only Shannen and her grandmother were in the flat at the time.
They died as a result of smoke inhalation, post-mortem tests found. Their pet cat and dog also died.They died as a result of smoke inhalation, post-mortem tests found. Their pet cat and dog also died.
Prosecutor Simon Denison QC said: "Pauline Adams and Shannen Vickers would have been asleep when the fire was set.Prosecutor Simon Denison QC said: "Pauline Adams and Shannen Vickers would have been asleep when the fire was set.
"They both woke up. Pauline went to Shannen's bedroom."They both woke up. Pauline went to Shannen's bedroom.
"Shannen was heard screaming for just a few seconds but she was not heard again."Shannen was heard screaming for just a few seconds but she was not heard again.
"They were both overcome by the smoke and the fumes and they died together, lying side by side - two completely innocent people killed over a £15 debt and not losing face.""They were both overcome by the smoke and the fumes and they died together, lying side by side - two completely innocent people killed over a £15 debt and not losing face."
The victims' bodies were found in a rear bedroom
Shannen's mother Nicola Vickers said in a family impact statement: "I cannot express in writing the pain of losing my daughter, she was my life."
She said Shannen, who she described as her "baby", was a "typical teenager who loved life" and had just passed all her exams for her business studies course at Epping College.
"Shannen was determined, hard-working, independent and caring, and I know she would have grown into a well-rounded young woman," she said.
"I would have loved to have seen my daughter get married and have children of her own. My chance to become a grandmother has been taken away from me."
Her mother, she added, was a "true cockney lady" and "the life and soul of all our family".
There was loud cheering and applause from the public gallery as Sheehan and Philip were jailed by Judge Richard Hawkins.There was loud cheering and applause from the public gallery as Sheehan and Philip were jailed by Judge Richard Hawkins.