Who were the victims of the St Helens house fire?

Sheila Jackson, 83, and Eric Greener, 77, were the victims of the fatal house fire.

Why was the house in St Helens set on fire?

The house was set on fire as an arson attack due to a drug dispute, with the intended target being the son of one of the victims.

What charges do the accused face in the St Helens fire case?

Kevin Weetman, Kylie Maynard, and Lee Owens deny murder, while Owens has admitted to manslaughter.

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Elderly Couple Killed in Arson Attack Over Drug Dispute

21 Jan

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Summary

Elderly couple died in house fire, victims of arson over drug dispute.
Intended target was victim's son, George Jackson, over drug dealing.
Three deny murder; one admits manslaughter of the couple.

Elderly Couple Killed in Arson Attack Over Drug Dispute

An arson attack, intended for George Jackson, resulted in the tragic deaths of his mother, Sheila Jackson, 83, and her partner, Eric Greener, 77. The fire occurred at their St Helens home approximately 1 year and 6 months ago, on July 15th. The prosecution alleges that Kevin Weetman orchestrated the attack due to a perceived loss of 'face' after George Jackson refused to work as a drug dealer.

Four individuals, Kevin Weetman, Kylie Maynard, Lee Owens, and Paul Smith, are implicated in the incident. Smith, who died shortly after the blaze, was involved in starting the fire. Owens has admitted to the manslaughter of the couple, though he claims the intent was only to damage the building. Weetman and Maynard deny any involvement in the fire or the subsequent deaths. The trial at Liverpool Crown Court is expected to last six weeks.