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Teenager deliberately started fire that killed four siblings, court told Teenager deliberately started fire that killed four siblings, court told
(4 months later)
Four siblings died from smoke inhalation after a teenager deliberately started a fire in a bedroom wardrobe, a jury has heard.Four siblings died from smoke inhalation after a teenager deliberately started a fire in a bedroom wardrobe, a jury has heard.
Four-year-old twins Holly and Ella Smith and their two-year-old brother Jordan were asleep as the blaze took hold, and their elder brother Reece, 19, was overcome by fumes as he went upstairs to try to rescue them.Four-year-old twins Holly and Ella Smith and their two-year-old brother Jordan were asleep as the blaze took hold, and their elder brother Reece, 19, was overcome by fumes as he went upstairs to try to rescue them.
Dyson Allen, 19, who is accused of their murder, was the only other person who was upstairs at the dormer bungalow in Freckleton, Lancashire, when the fire broke out, Preston crown court was told.Dyson Allen, 19, who is accused of their murder, was the only other person who was upstairs at the dormer bungalow in Freckleton, Lancashire, when the fire broke out, Preston crown court was told.
A birthday party was being held for the children's mother, Michelle Smith, at the address on the night of the fire on 7 January last year.A birthday party was being held for the children's mother, Michelle Smith, at the address on the night of the fire on 7 January last year.
Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, said: "It is the prosecution's case that the defendant, Dyson Allen, was responsible for starting that fire and he did so deliberately."Neil Flewitt QC, prosecuting, said: "It is the prosecution's case that the defendant, Dyson Allen, was responsible for starting that fire and he did so deliberately."
The fatal fire began inside a wardrobe in the bedroom shared by the three young children and their mother, said the prosecutor.The fatal fire began inside a wardrobe in the bedroom shared by the three young children and their mother, said the prosecutor.
Three family friends were also in the house along with the defendant, who was a friend of another of Smith's sons. Allen was a regular visitor and stayed overnight the evening before the blaze, the jury was told.Three family friends were also in the house along with the defendant, who was a friend of another of Smith's sons. Allen was a regular visitor and stayed overnight the evening before the blaze, the jury was told.
He spent most of the night on 7 January in the second upstairs bedroom, according to those who were in the house, said Flewitt.He spent most of the night on 7 January in the second upstairs bedroom, according to those who were in the house, said Flewitt.
"Michelle Smith had allowed Dyson Allen to store some of his personal belongings that were in a large blue Ikea bag in bedroom one (the young children's room)," the prosecutor said. "The presence of that bag may be significant because it would provide a reason for Dyson Allen to go into that bedroom."Michelle Smith had allowed Dyson Allen to store some of his personal belongings that were in a large blue Ikea bag in bedroom one (the young children's room)," the prosecutor said. "The presence of that bag may be significant because it would provide a reason for Dyson Allen to go into that bedroom.
"Apart from the three young children who were asleep in their beds, he was the only person upstairs when the fire started and he was the person that alerted the other occupants of the house to what was happening.""Apart from the three young children who were asleep in their beds, he was the only person upstairs when the fire started and he was the person that alerted the other occupants of the house to what was happening."
Smith, 37, a mother of nine, said she said remembered the lights going off and the defendant jumping down the stairs shouting "fire" before he ran through the kitchen and out of the back door.Smith, 37, a mother of nine, said she said remembered the lights going off and the defendant jumping down the stairs shouting "fire" before he ran through the kitchen and out of the back door.
Flewitt said: "Michelle Smith's memory of subsequent events is understandably not clear but she recalls being taken out of the house and sitting on the little wall at the end of the driveway. She doesn't remember Reece going up the stairs but she remembers him being brought out and everyone gathering around him.Flewitt said: "Michelle Smith's memory of subsequent events is understandably not clear but she recalls being taken out of the house and sitting on the little wall at the end of the driveway. She doesn't remember Reece going up the stairs but she remembers him being brought out and everyone gathering around him.
"Thereafter she was taken in a police car to the hospital where she discovered that four of her children had died in the fire.""Thereafter she was taken in a police car to the hospital where she discovered that four of her children had died in the fire."
Smith told police that smoke alarms had been fitted at the top and bottom of the stairs but Reece had taken them down in the days before the fire because one or both of them kept making beeping noises.Smith told police that smoke alarms had been fitted at the top and bottom of the stairs but Reece had taken them down in the days before the fire because one or both of them kept making beeping noises.
She said she took the twins up to bed at about 10pm to join Jordan who was already asleep.She said she took the twins up to bed at about 10pm to join Jordan who was already asleep.
The prosecutor said: "She is sure that the doors to the wardrobe were closed when she left the room because it annoys her if they are left open so she always checks that they are closed and that the children's dressing gowns are hanging from the handles."The prosecutor said: "She is sure that the doors to the wardrobe were closed when she left the room because it annoys her if they are left open so she always checks that they are closed and that the children's dressing gowns are hanging from the handles."
Allen, from the Freckleton area, denies four counts of murder and four alternative counts of manslaughter. The trial continues.Allen, from the Freckleton area, denies four counts of murder and four alternative counts of manslaughter. The trial continues.
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