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Mick and Mairead Philpott await sentencing over fire deaths Mick and Mairead Philpott await sentencing over fire deaths
(about 17 hours later)
Mick Philpott, the man convicted of starting a fire at his home that killed six children, will be sentenced on Thursday as the prison service prepares to protect him from reprisal attacks.Mick Philpott, the man convicted of starting a fire at his home that killed six children, will be sentenced on Thursday as the prison service prepares to protect him from reprisal attacks.
Philpott, his wife Mairead and their friend Paul Mosley were found guilty on Tuesday of the manslaughter of the children as they slept in a house in Derby last May.Philpott, his wife Mairead and their friend Paul Mosley were found guilty on Tuesday of the manslaughter of the children as they slept in a house in Derby last May.
Barristers for the couple told a sentencing hearing on Wednesday that they had been good parents and in spite of their complex private lives their children had been doing well.Barristers for the couple told a sentencing hearing on Wednesday that they had been good parents and in spite of their complex private lives their children had been doing well.
All three defendants are expected to be jailed when Mrs Justice Thirlwall sentences them at Nottingham crown court.All three defendants are expected to be jailed when Mrs Justice Thirlwall sentences them at Nottingham crown court.
It was revealed that Mr Philpott had been on bail at the time of the fire after a violent road rage attack. He had punched a driver after forcing him to stop because he believed he had pulled out in front of him at a roundabout. He admitted common assault but was awaiting trial on a charge of dangerous driving.It was revealed that Mr Philpott had been on bail at the time of the fire after a violent road rage attack. He had punched a driver after forcing him to stop because he believed he had pulled out in front of him at a roundabout. He admitted common assault but was awaiting trial on a charge of dangerous driving.
The notorious and high-profile nature of the manslaughter case poses a challenge as to how to protect the Philpotts once they are inside.The notorious and high-profile nature of the manslaughter case poses a challenge as to how to protect the Philpotts once they are inside.
Mrs Philpott's barrister said she faced risks in prison because she had been convicted of killing children. Shaun Smith QC gave mitigating factors in the hearing as he tried to persuade the judge to pass a lower the sentence.Mrs Philpott's barrister said she faced risks in prison because she had been convicted of killing children. Shaun Smith QC gave mitigating factors in the hearing as he tried to persuade the judge to pass a lower the sentence.
"She will be forever known as a child killer," Smith said."She will be forever known as a child killer," Smith said.
He said her real sentence would be the loss of her children and that she had been dominated by her husband during their 12-year relationship.He said her real sentence would be the loss of her children and that she had been dominated by her husband during their 12-year relationship.
Smith told the judge there was "only one dominant person in that relationship". He added: "She would do whatever he said, whatever he wanted," and described her attempts to keep her husband's affections as "utter folly".Smith told the judge there was "only one dominant person in that relationship". He added: "She would do whatever he said, whatever he wanted," and described her attempts to keep her husband's affections as "utter folly".
He said the children led happy lives despite living for a time with their mother, father and their father's girlfriend. Smith told the judge: "The entirety of the evidence in this case is that Mairead Philpott was an extremely good mother to all 11 children. No one, we respectfully submit, can dispute the grief that she feels."He said the children led happy lives despite living for a time with their mother, father and their father's girlfriend. Smith told the judge: "The entirety of the evidence in this case is that Mairead Philpott was an extremely good mother to all 11 children. No one, we respectfully submit, can dispute the grief that she feels."
The hearing heard that Mr Philpott had meted out violence in all his relationships. At one point the judge asked: "There's been violence in every single relationship, has there not?"The hearing heard that Mr Philpott had meted out violence in all his relationships. At one point the judge asked: "There's been violence in every single relationship, has there not?"
The crown outlined Philpott's past offences, which Thirlwall said she would take into account in deciding sentencing.The crown outlined Philpott's past offences, which Thirlwall said she would take into account in deciding sentencing.
Philpott has a conviction from December 1978 for attempting to murder a woman who wanted to leave him, whom he stabbed more than a dozen times.Philpott has a conviction from December 1978 for attempting to murder a woman who wanted to leave him, whom he stabbed more than a dozen times.
Aged 21 at the time of the attack, he was sentenced to seven years for the attempted murder of Kim Hill and for grievous bodily harm to her mother, with the judge warning that he was a dangerous man.Aged 21 at the time of the attack, he was sentenced to seven years for the attempted murder of Kim Hill and for grievous bodily harm to her mother, with the judge warning that he was a dangerous man.
After the attack Hill had to be revived twice and the court on Wednesday heard that she still suffers from its effects.After the attack Hill had to be revived twice and the court on Wednesday heard that she still suffers from its effects.
Before the murder attempt Philpott had attacked her, breaking her fingers, and when Hill then wanted to leave him, Philpott became so enraged he decided to kill her so no other man could have her. In mitigation, Philpott's barrister, Anthony Orchard QC, said the conviction for attempted murder was a long time ago and there was no evidence of anything like the offence since.Before the murder attempt Philpott had attacked her, breaking her fingers, and when Hill then wanted to leave him, Philpott became so enraged he decided to kill her so no other man could have her. In mitigation, Philpott's barrister, Anthony Orchard QC, said the conviction for attempted murder was a long time ago and there was no evidence of anything like the offence since.
The court was told that in 1991 Philpott headbutted someone while working and was given a conditional discharge for actual bodily harm. He was cautioned in 2010 for attacking his wife after slapping her in the face and dragging her out of the house.The court was told that in 1991 Philpott headbutted someone while working and was given a conditional discharge for actual bodily harm. He was cautioned in 2010 for attacking his wife after slapping her in the face and dragging her out of the house.
The house in Derby was set ablaze in last May as part of a conspiracy in which Mr Philpott hoped to frame a former lover, Lisa Willis, for the arson as revenge for her leaving him and taking five children with her. Orchard said the plot to set the fire had gone "disastrously wrong" because it spread too quickly.The house in Derby was set ablaze in last May as part of a conspiracy in which Mr Philpott hoped to frame a former lover, Lisa Willis, for the arson as revenge for her leaving him and taking five children with her. Orchard said the plot to set the fire had gone "disastrously wrong" because it spread too quickly.
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