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Man guilty of house fire deaths Man jailed for house fire deaths
(20 minutes later)
A father has been convicted of the manslaughter of his son and two teenage stepchildren in a house fire he started after an angry row with his wife. A father has been jailed for 12 years for killing his son and two teenage stepchildren in a house fire he started after an angry row with his wife.
Kevin Hargreaves, 38, poured petrol over himself and lit it - setting the house in Openshaw, Manchester, ablaze.Kevin Hargreaves, 38, poured petrol over himself and lit it - setting the house in Openshaw, Manchester, ablaze.
His eight-year-old son John, his stepson Jordan, 14, and stepdaughter Carly, 19, died in the fire last July.His eight-year-old son John, his stepson Jordan, 14, and stepdaughter Carly, 19, died in the fire last July.
A jury at Manchester Crown Court cleared him of murder on the basis that he only wanted to kill himself. A jury at Manchester Crown Court cleared him of murder, but convicted him of manslaughter.
Hargreaves, of no fixed abode, married Susan Owen in 2003 but they never lived together because of their volatile, alcohol-driven relationship. Hargreaves, of no fixed abode, married Susan Owen in 2003 but they never lived together because of their volatile, alcohol-driven relationship, the court heard.
'Stupid act''Stupid act'
The couple spent the day drinking on 15 July and returned to Ms Owen's home in Herne Street.The couple spent the day drinking on 15 July and returned to Ms Owen's home in Herne Street.
They had rowed in a taxi because Hargreaves thought Ms Owen was flirting with the driver.They had rowed in a taxi because Hargreaves thought Ms Owen was flirting with the driver.
After an argument in the house, he punched her in the face before running upstairs and pouring the petrol over himself in the bedroom.After an argument in the house, he punched her in the face before running upstairs and pouring the petrol over himself in the bedroom.
There were 12 people in the town house at the time of the fire
"I had had enough of life," Hargreaves told the jury, who later said he still loved his wife "to bits"."I had had enough of life," Hargreaves told the jury, who later said he still loved his wife "to bits".
Mr Hargreaves said he intended to kill himself in the fire
Hargreaves had denied three counts of murder. Seven other children survived the fire.Hargreaves had denied three counts of murder. Seven other children survived the fire.
Mr Justice Holroyde said sentencing would take place later.
Addressing the judge, Hargreaves's barrister Jeffrey Samuels QC said: "Whatever sentence is imposed, his real sentence will be the knowledge to his dying days that he caused everything that happened, in particular the deaths of three children.
"This was an impulsive, stupid and foolish act which he bitterly regrets. He has taken three lives, has ruined the lives of others and has lost the woman he loved."
The judge said he would not read out in open court the victim impact statement of Ms Owen but said it was extremely clear that in her own words she had suffered "untold pain".The judge said he would not read out in open court the victim impact statement of Ms Owen but said it was extremely clear that in her own words she had suffered "untold pain".
John and his half-brother Jordan died when they became trapped in a third-floor bedroom, while Jordan's 19-year-old sister, Carly, died after she dashed back into the house in the hope of saving the boys.
Ms Owen had told the court that she saw Jordan at the window shouting "Mummy help me" as the fire took hold of their home.