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'Bitter' ex 'killed girl' in fire | 'Bitter' ex 'killed girl' in fire |
(30 minutes later) | |
A three-year-old girl was killed by her aunt's "bitter" ex-boyfriend who started a fire at her home in Liverpool, a court has heard. | A three-year-old girl was killed by her aunt's "bitter" ex-boyfriend who started a fire at her home in Liverpool, a court has heard. |
Francesca Bimpson was unable to escape the flames and suffered massive burns, Liverpool Crown Court was told. | Francesca Bimpson was unable to escape the flames and suffered massive burns, Liverpool Crown Court was told. |
Graham Heaps, 44, the ex-partner of the girl's aunt Linda Skelhorne, is accused of starting the fire in a revenge attack against the family. | Graham Heaps, 44, the ex-partner of the girl's aunt Linda Skelhorne, is accused of starting the fire in a revenge attack against the family. |
Mr Heaps, of Woodside Terrace, Crumlin, south Wales, denies murder. | Mr Heaps, of Woodside Terrace, Crumlin, south Wales, denies murder. |
The prosecution claims he poured petrol through the front door of the house in Norwood Grove, Everton, and set it alight while Francesca and her family slept. | |
'Limp and breathing' | |
Her father Kieron Bimpson, 37, suffered leg injuries jumping from a first-floor window so he could catch the children as they did the same. | |
Her mother Eleanor Skelhorne, 37, suffered minor injuries and sisters Anne-Marie, 17 months, Christina, eight, and 14-year-old brother Kieron were treated for the effects of breathing in smoke. | |
Brian Cummings QC, prosecuting, said four firefighters entered the burning property to search for Francesca and found her "limp and breathing faintly" | |
She had suffered 85% burns over her body. | |
He said: "It was always likely that she would die and she did so three weeks later. | |
"The cause of death was complications as a result of her burns." | |
It is clear feelings between Heaps and Ms Skelhorne's family started to run high following the breakdown of the relationship Brian Cummings QC, prosecuting | |
Mr Cummings said the break-up between Mr Heaps and Miss Skelhorne had been difficult and the defendant continued to have feelings for Francesca's aunt. | |
In the months leading up to the attack on 2 December 2008, Eleanor Skelhorne began receiving abusive and obscene text messages and calls from a mobile phone belonging to Mr Heaps, he told the jury. | |
"It is clear feelings between Heaps and Ms Skelhorne's family started to run high following the breakdown of the relationship," Mr Cummings said. | |
Mr Bimpson and his teenage son both became aware of the abusive messages and, in one exchange, Kieron Junior threatened to put a firework through the letterbox of Mr Heaps' then home in Liverpool. | |
Mr Cummings said Mr Heaps harboured "ill feelings" toward the Bimpson and Skelhorne families. | |
"He had had a failed relationship with Linda Skelhorne and had sent obscene messages to Eleanor, following which he was threatened by her partner and son," he said. | |
"We say he intended to kill one or another member of the household or cause them serious injury." | |
Mr Heaps denies murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter. The trial was adjourned until Tuesday. |
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