Family handoutA coroner has expressed “profound regret” to the family of a mother and her four children who died in an arson attack as he delayed an inquest into their deaths.
The house blaze in Walkden, Greater Manchester, claimed the lives of Demi Pearson, 15, her brother Brandon, eight, and sisters Lacie, seven, and Lia, three, in December 2017.
Their mother, Michelle Pearson, 37, suffered extensive burns injuries and “clung on to life” until she died 20 months later.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigated the family’s contact with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) before their deaths but GMP had since notified the watchdog of “some concerns” over the probe and asked it to review it.
Nicholas Flanagan, representing the IOPC, told a pre-inquest hearing at Bolton Coroner’s Court that the review was “nearing its conclusion” with a decision expected in the next fortnight as to whether a fresh investigation was required.
Other legal matters involving “complexities of disclosure and further evidence” also need to be considered, the court heard.
HM Senior Coroner for Manchester West Timothy Brennand said it was “far better” to hear the evidence all at one time rather than in a series of rolling part-heard sessions.
Zak Bolland and David Worrall were jailed for life for the murders and told they would serve a minimum of 40 and 37 years respectively for the petrol bomb attack on the Pearson family home in Jackson Street in the early hours of 11 December 2017.
Bolland’s girlfriend, Courtney Brierley, was jailed for 21 years for four counts of manslaughter after the trial at Manchester Crown Crown Court.
Ms Pearson had “begged” to be rehoused and called police on five occasions in the two weeks before the fatal attack, the trial at Manchester Crown Court heard.
Police handout‘Profound regret’
Anna Morris KC, representing the family, said: “It is of course their wish that the inquest takes place as soon as possible given their long-standing desire for the matters to be thoroughly investigated, but they are clear they want things done thoroughly.”
The coroner said: “I convey my profound regret to the family that in an already delayed investigation we are left in an unhappy position of grappling with the inevitable conclusion that the long-listed hearing date of June 2 cannot be met.”
A further pre-inquest review, scheduled to last a full day, will take place on June 16.
