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Prestatyn fire deaths: Melanie Smith guilty of murder | Prestatyn fire deaths: Melanie Smith guilty of murder |
(about 1 hour 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. |
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. |
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. | 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. |
She will be sentenced next month. | She will be sentenced next month. |
Smith was also convicted of threatening to burn another woman's home. | 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 at the property. | 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. He later died in hospital. | 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". |
Speaking outside court, Ms Shiers' parents, Joy and Peter, said they were "overjoyed" with the verdicts. | |
Mrs Shiers, 45, who has attended every day of the trial, said: "I'm sorry for her [Smith's] family but for me and my family, we are so happy that we have got justice." | |
She said she "couldn't put into words" her feelings towards Smith. | |
"There's no reason for what happened and we're never going to get a reason because she's still saying she's not done anything," Mrs Shiers said. | |
"Anna was such a lovely, bubbly girl and Liam a very caring dad. Both of them were heroes because we know they would have done everything to rescue the children. | |
"The three kiddies loved each other, they played together all the time. | |
"They were our angels. Really, really nice people that will be missed." | |
Mr Shiers, 64, added: "It's been a long procedure, six months now, and we're grateful for all the help and support we have had. | |
"Nothing will bring them back but justice has been served." | |
His wife said they had yet to grieve for their family, adding: "We can't think of the good times because we were there on that night and that's all you think about. | |
"She [Smith] hasn't just taken Anna, Liam and the children, she's taken our way of life, our friends, our family. | |
"They should never let her out." | |
Mr Shiers said: "It's going to be very hard to fill the space that has been left in our hearts and in our lives." |