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Child fire deaths: Michael Philpott 'hit mistress' | Child fire deaths: Michael Philpott 'hit mistress' |
(35 minutes later) | |
A father accused of starting a house fire which killed six of his children was violent towards his live-in mistress, a jury has been told. | A father accused of starting a house fire which killed six of his children was violent towards his live-in mistress, a jury has been told. |
Michael Philpott, along with wife Mairead, and friend Paul Mosley, deny the manslaughter of the six children in Derby on 11 May. | Michael Philpott, along with wife Mairead, and friend Paul Mosley, deny the manslaughter of the six children in Derby on 11 May. |
It is alleged they started the fire to frame Mr Philpott's former mistress Lisa Willis during a custody battle. | It is alleged they started the fire to frame Mr Philpott's former mistress Lisa Willis during a custody battle. |
Ms Willis said Mr Philpott hit her with a piece of wood in front of her child. | Ms Willis said Mr Philpott hit her with a piece of wood in front of her child. |
This incident had followed an argument over who fathered her first child, who was born before she started her relationship with Mr Philpott. | This incident had followed an argument over who fathered her first child, who was born before she started her relationship with Mr Philpott. |
'Shocked and disappointed' | 'Shocked and disappointed' |
Giving evidence behind a screen at Nottingham Crown Court, she said: "He hit me with a two by two piece of wood. | Giving evidence behind a screen at Nottingham Crown Court, she said: "He hit me with a two by two piece of wood. |
"He hit me on the leg, back and arms. He did it about ten times. | "He hit me on the leg, back and arms. He did it about ten times. |
"I was shocked and disappointed." | "I was shocked and disappointed." |
The 29-year-old told the court she met Mr Philpott, now 56, when she was 17 and a single mother. | The 29-year-old told the court she met Mr Philpott, now 56, when she was 17 and a single mother. |
Ms Willis said she moved into the Derby home shortly afterwards and the pair started a sexual relationship, with the knowledge of his wife. | Ms Willis said she moved into the Derby home shortly afterwards and the pair started a sexual relationship, with the knowledge of his wife. |
Mr Philpott would take it in turns to spend the night with his wife and mistress, Ms Willis said. | Mr Philpott would take it in turns to spend the night with his wife and mistress, Ms Willis said. |
The three adults lived in the three-bedroom council house with 11 children. | The three adults lived in the three-bedroom council house with 11 children. |
Six children were those of Mr and Mrs Philpott and four were his children with Ms Willis. Another child was Ms Willis's with another man. | Six children were those of Mr and Mrs Philpott and four were his children with Ms Willis. Another child was Ms Willis's with another man. |
Ms Willis told the court all her income support, child benefits and wages from her part-time cleaning job were paid into Mr Philpott's bank account. | Ms Willis told the court all her income support, child benefits and wages from her part-time cleaning job were paid into Mr Philpott's bank account. |
"If I wanted to leave he would ask me where I was going, why, and how long for," she said. | "If I wanted to leave he would ask me where I was going, why, and how long for," she said. |
He accused her of having several affairs, she said, and she remembered him throwing a cup of coffee over her. | He accused her of having several affairs, she said, and she remembered him throwing a cup of coffee over her. |
Jurors have heard that Ms Willis became unhappy with the relationship and moved out with her children three months before the fire. | Jurors have heard that Ms Willis became unhappy with the relationship and moved out with her children three months before the fire. |
On the morning of the fire Mr Philpott and Ms Willis had been due to attend a court hearing to discuss residency of the children. | On the morning of the fire Mr Philpott and Ms Willis had been due to attend a court hearing to discuss residency of the children. |
Jade, 10, and her brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, Jayden, five, and Duwayne, 13 - all perished after the fire which engulfed their home in Victory Road, Allenton, as they slept in their beds in the early hours of 11 May last year. | |
Mr Philpott and Mrs Philpott, 31, both formerly of Victory Road, and Mr Mosley, 46, of Cecil Street, all from Derby, are charged with six counts of manslaughter; one for each of the children. | Mr Philpott and Mrs Philpott, 31, both formerly of Victory Road, and Mr Mosley, 46, of Cecil Street, all from Derby, are charged with six counts of manslaughter; one for each of the children. |
The case continues. | The case continues. |