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/manchester/8468210.stm

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

Version 1 Version 2
Father 'in row' before fatal fire Father 'in row' before fatal fire
(30 minutes later)
A father killed his young son and two teenage stepchildren in a house fire after he accused his wife of flirting with a taxi driver, a court heard.A father killed his young son and two teenage stepchildren in a house fire after he accused his wife of flirting with a taxi driver, a court heard.
Manchester Crown Court was told Kevin Hargreaves, 37, flew into a rage at the children's mother when they returned home and tried to set himself alight.Manchester Crown Court was told Kevin Hargreaves, 37, flew into a rage at the children's mother when they returned home and tried to set himself alight.
The fire spread from the bedroom and engulfed the property in Herne Street in Beswick, Manchester, last July. Jurors heard the fire engulfed the property in Herne Street in Beswick, Manchester, last July.
Mr Hargreaves denies three counts of murder.Mr Hargreaves denies three counts of murder.
The dead children's mother, Susan Owen, managed to escape the fire. The dead children's mother, Susan Owen, managed to escape the fire, which spread from the bedroom.
'Bad mood'
John Hargreaves, eight, and his stepbrother Jordan Swift, 14, died after they became trapped in a third-floor bedroom while Jordan's 19-year-old sister, Carly, also died after she dashed back into the house in the hope of saving the boys.John Hargreaves, eight, and his stepbrother Jordan Swift, 14, died after they became trapped in a third-floor bedroom while Jordan's 19-year-old sister, Carly, also died after she dashed back into the house in the hope of saving the boys.
Seven other children staying at the house survived the fire. 'Bad mood'
The court heard Mr Hargreaves walked down the stairs of the property and was later spotted leaning on the garden gate as the fire raged. Seven other children staying at the house survived the fire on 16 July.
The court heard Mr Hargreaves walked down the stairs of the property after the fire started and was later spotted leaning on the garden gate as the fire raged.
Richard Marks QC, prosecuting, said Mr Hargreaves had returned to Ms Owen's home a few hours before the incident in a "very bad mood" following a taxi ride home after a night out.Richard Marks QC, prosecuting, said Mr Hargreaves had returned to Ms Owen's home a few hours before the incident in a "very bad mood" following a taxi ride home after a night out.
He said the trouble between them seemed to have started during the course of the taxi drive where Ms Owen bought a kebab for the taxi driver. He said the trouble between them seemed to have started during the course of the taxi drive when Ms Owen bought a kebab for the taxi driver.
"The defendant took exception to this and later accused Susan Owen of trying to 'cop off' with the taxi driver," Mr Marks said."The defendant took exception to this and later accused Susan Owen of trying to 'cop off' with the taxi driver," Mr Marks said.
I only wanted to kill myself, I only wanted to kill myself Kevin Hargreaves' statement to police
The court heard that the couple argued for several hours after they were dropped off, with Mr Hargreaves punching his wife before dousing himself and the bed with petrol while she was out of the room.
The row culminated in a struggle on the bed in which she bit him on the leg and he then ignited the petrol with a cigarette lighter as he restrained her, the prosecutor said.
The fire spread rapidly and all of the occupants of the house made good their escape except John and Jordan, he said.
Mr Marks said witnesses described seeing Jordan at the window of the bedroom and shouted for him to jump.
"But he did not do so, evidently being frightened, and then he disappeared from sight," he said.
The three victims all suffered severe burns and died later that day in hospital.
'Poured petrol'
Mr Hargreaves was also detained in hospital but with only minor injuries.
The jury was told he made a number of statements at Wythenshawe Hospital.
He told police: "I only wanted to kill myself, I only wanted to kill myself."
The court heard he also told other witnesses: "I am always arguing with the missus, she winds me up. The night of the fire she was flirting with the taxi driver and she knew it would get to me, I can't handle it."
He added: "I never even thought about the kids when I did that. I just lay on the bed and poured petrol over me, I never thought about the kids, my mind was blank."