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Prestatyn fire deaths: Melanie Smith to be sentenced | Prestatyn fire deaths: Melanie Smith to be sentenced |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A woman who started a fire which killed five members of a neighbouring family will be sentenced later on Wednesday. | A woman who started a fire which killed five members of a neighbouring family will be sentenced later on Wednesday. |
Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, her nephew Bailey, four, niece Skye, two, partner Liam Timbrell, 23, and son Charlie, 15 months, died in Prestatyn last October. | Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, her nephew Bailey, four, niece Skye, two, partner Liam Timbrell, 23, and son Charlie, 15 months, died in Prestatyn last October. |
Melanie Smith, 43, started the fire in a row over Ms Shiers' pushchair, which was in a shared hallway. | Melanie Smith, 43, started the fire in a row over Ms Shiers' pushchair, which was in a shared hallway. |
She was convicted at Mold Crown Court of five murders and of threatening to burn another woman's home. | She was convicted at Mold Crown Court of five murders and of threatening to burn another woman's home. |
During her trial last month, the jury heard 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 where they both lived in flats. | |
She had previously made threats that she would set Ms Shiers' house on fire "with you and [your] kids in it". | She 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. |
Neighbours in Maes y Groes made desperate attempts to rescue the family but were driven back by the fire's intensity and heat. | Neighbours in Maes y Groes 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. |
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. |
After the guilty verdicts were given on 30 April by the jury of seven women and five men, Ms Shiers' parents, Joy and Peter, said they were "overjoyed". | After the guilty verdicts were given on 30 April by the jury of seven women and five men, Ms Shiers' parents, Joy and Peter, said they were "overjoyed". |
Paying tribute to her family, Mrs Shiers, 45, 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. | Paying tribute to her family, Mrs Shiers, 45, 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. | "The three kiddies loved each other, they played together all the time. |
"They were our angels. Really, really nice people that will be missed." | "They were our angels. Really, really nice people that will be missed." |
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