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| Prestatyn fire deaths: Melanie Smith 'driven by a desire for revenge' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A woman killed five members of the same family in a house fire in an act "driven by a desire for revenge", a court has heard. | |
| Ian Murphy QC, prosecuting, said Melanie Smith, 43, "had all the ingredients of murder". | |
| She denies murder and making threats to burn another woman's home. | |
| In his closing speech to the jury at Mold Crown Court, Mr Murphy said the blaze in Prestatyn last October was "terrifyingly swift". | |
| He told the court Ms Smith had the motive and opportunity to carry out the killings. | |
| She had, he said, previously threatened to start a fire and had taken her opportunity "with deadly intent". | |
| Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, her nephew Bailey, four, niece Skye, two, partner Liam Timbrell, 23, and 15-month-old son Charlie were all killed by the fire at her flat in Prestatyn on 19 October. | Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, her nephew Bailey, four, niece Skye, two, partner Liam Timbrell, 23, and 15-month-old son Charlie were all killed by the fire at her flat in Prestatyn on 19 October. |
| Mr Murphy said: "We say that she took that opportunity with deadly intent and to deadly effect." | Mr Murphy said: "We say that she took that opportunity with deadly intent and to deadly effect." |
| He said a 999 call from victim Mr Timbrell at 22:00 BST showed he was initially relatively calm but within one minute and 15 seconds he realised it was a fire which could cost them their lives. | He said a 999 call from victim Mr Timbrell at 22:00 BST showed he was initially relatively calm but within one minute and 15 seconds he realised it was a fire which could cost them their lives. |
| At that stage he was heard repeating twice: "Oh my God, we are going to die." | At that stage he was heard repeating twice: "Oh my God, we are going to die." |
| Mr Murphy said the defendant was lying when she claimed in evidence to have escaped from her ground floor bedroom through a back window. | Mr Murphy said the defendant was lying when she claimed in evidence to have escaped from her ground floor bedroom through a back window. |
| He said she was trying to portray herself as the victim rather than the person who had started the fire. | He said she was trying to portray herself as the victim rather than the person who had started the fire. |
| Mr Murphy said: "There is clear and compelling evidence on which you can conclude that that she started the fire." | Mr Murphy said: "There is clear and compelling evidence on which you can conclude that that she started the fire." |
| He said there was compelling evidence that the defendant was a person who would threaten to set fire to people's homes. | He said there was compelling evidence that the defendant was a person who would threaten to set fire to people's homes. |
| Mr Murphy added it was quite an extraordinary thing for someone to go around threatening to burn someone's home particularly when there were children inside. | Mr Murphy added it was quite an extraordinary thing for someone to go around threatening to burn someone's home particularly when there were children inside. |
| He said: "It is even more extraordinary when that person is a 43-year-old woman with five children of her own. | He said: "It is even more extraordinary when that person is a 43-year-old woman with five children of her own. |
| "But there is compelling evidence that she is such a person from the threats she made." | "But there is compelling evidence that she is such a person from the threats she made." |
| Mr Murphy said there had been a "flare-up of anger" by Ms Smith on the day before the fire and the day of the fire. | Mr Murphy said there had been a "flare-up of anger" by Ms Smith on the day before the fire and the day of the fire. |
| He said when the defendant threatened to burn down the flat, a friend told her that there were children upstairs, but she is alleged to have held her head in her hands and said "kill, kill, kill". | He said when the defendant threatened to burn down the flat, a friend told her that there were children upstairs, but she is alleged to have held her head in her hands and said "kill, kill, kill". |
| Mr Murphy said there was "an awful lot of evidence from an awful lot of people". | Mr Murphy said there was "an awful lot of evidence from an awful lot of people". |
| Previously, Ms Smith claimed many of the witnesses had lied but Mr Murphy said the jury had been presented with a clear and consistent picture of threats. | Previously, Ms Smith claimed many of the witnesses had lied but Mr Murphy said the jury had been presented with a clear and consistent picture of threats. |
| 'Affair' | 'Affair' |
| Ms Smith claimed 21 witnesses had lied. | Ms Smith claimed 21 witnesses had lied. |
| Mr Murphy said: "It is an awful lot of witness evidence about which the defendant says you should completely disregard because they are lying." | Mr Murphy said: "It is an awful lot of witness evidence about which the defendant says you should completely disregard because they are lying." |
| The prosecution alleges Ms Smith started the fire in a row over a pushchair being left in the building's downstairs communal hallway. | The prosecution alleges Ms Smith started the fire in a row over a pushchair being left in the building's downstairs communal hallway. |
| Mr Murphy said Ms Smith set fire to it with a lighter. | Mr Murphy said Ms Smith set fire to it with a lighter. |
| Ms Smith has also denied making an earlier threat to burn the house of Samantha Schofield, who it is alleged Mr Clarkson was having an affair with. | Ms Smith has also denied making an earlier threat to burn the house of Samantha Schofield, who it is alleged Mr Clarkson was having an affair with. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |