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Prestatyn fire deaths: Melanie Smith guilty of murder Prestatyn fire deaths: Melanie Smith guilty of murder
(35 minutes later)
A woman has been found guilty of murdering five members of a neighbouring family, including three children, by starting a fire.A woman has been found guilty of murdering five members of a neighbouring family, including three children, by starting a fire.
Mother-of-five Melanie Smith, 43, was also convicted at Mold Crown Court of threatening to burn the home of another woman. Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, her nephew Bailey, four, niece Skye, two, partner Liam Timbrell, 23, and son Charlie, 15 months, died in Prestatyn.
Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, her nephew Bailey, four, niece Skye, two, partner Liam Timbrell, 23, and son Charlie, 15 months died in Prestatyn, Denbighshire. Melanie Smith, 43, was accused at Mold Crown Court of setting the fire last October in a row over a pushchair left in a shared hallway.
Smith will be sentenced on 8 May. She will be sentenced next month.
Smith was also convicted of threatening to burn another woman's home.
There were sobs from the public gallery as the verdicts were read out.There were sobs from the public gallery as the verdicts were read out.
They came after nearly 15 hours of deliberation by a jury of seven women and five men.They came after nearly 15 hours of deliberation by a jury of seven women and five men.
Smith was convicted of starting the fire at Maes y Groes by setting a pushchair alight in a communal hallway.Smith was convicted of starting the fire at Maes y Groes by setting a pushchair alight in a communal hallway.
Jurors were told that Smith was in dispute with Ms Shiers because the young mother-of-one left her son's pushchair in the downstairs communal hallway. Jurors were told that Smith was in dispute with Ms Shiers because the young mother-of-one left her son's pushchair in the downstairs communal hallway at the property.
Smith had previously made threats that she would set Ms Shiers' house on fire "with you and [your] kids in it".Smith had previously made threats that she would set Ms Shiers' house on fire "with you and [your] kids in it".
On the day of the fire Smith drank 10 alcoholic drinks and set fire to the pushchair using a lighter. Ms Shiers and her family became trapped in their upstairs flat.On the day of the fire Smith drank 10 alcoholic drinks and set fire to the pushchair using a lighter. Ms Shiers and her family became trapped in their upstairs flat.
The jury heard harrowing evidence of the scene from neighbours and Mr Timbrell's 999 call was played.The jury heard harrowing evidence of the scene from neighbours and Mr Timbrell's 999 call was played.
He could be heard shouting: "Oh my God, oh my God, we're going to die."He could be heard shouting: "Oh my God, oh my God, we're going to die."
Neighbours made desperate attempts to rescue the family but were driven back by the fire's intensity and heat.Neighbours made desperate attempts to rescue the family but were driven back by the fire's intensity and heat.
After he was rescued, Mr Timbrell told a paramedic Smith was responsible. After he was rescued, Mr Timbrell told a paramedic Smith was responsible. He later died in hospital.
The building's landlord, Jay Liptrot, who attended the blaze as a fire fighter, told the court he had given Smith notice to leave the property a month before the fire after she was drunkenly abusive to Ms Shiers.The building's landlord, Jay Liptrot, who attended the blaze as a fire fighter, told the court he had given Smith notice to leave the property a month before the fire after she was drunkenly abusive to Ms Shiers.
While giving evidence, Smith said she wanted to take a lie detector test and accused 21 witnesses, who testified against her, of lying.While giving evidence, Smith said she wanted to take a lie detector test and accused 21 witnesses, who testified against her, of lying.
Smith said she was "far from evil".Smith said she was "far from evil".