[T]hree people have been jailed after a house was petrol bombed in Salford and four children were killed.
Zak Bolland (23/08/1994) of Blackleach Drive, Worsley and David Worrall (15/04/1992) of Worsley Avenue, Worsley have today, Thursday 24 May 2018, been jailed for life after they were found guilty of the murder of 15-year old Demi Pearson, 8-year-old Brandon Pearson, 7-year-old Lacie Pearson and 3-year-old Lia Pearson.
Bolland was also found guilty of the attempted murder of their mum, Michelle Pearson, and their 16-year-old brother Kyle Pearson and his 16-year-old friend Bobby Harris.
Worrall was also found guilty of three counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent on those same three people.
Bolland will serve a minimum of 40 years in prison and Worrall a minimum of 37 years in prison.
Courtney Brierley (25/07/1997) of Worsley Avenue, Worsley was found guilty of the manslaughter of Demi, Brandon, Lacie and Lia. She was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
Shortly before 5am on Monday 11 December 2018, police and GMFRS were called to reports of a house fire on Jackson Street in Walkden.
On arrival they were confronted by a ferocious house fire. Fire fighters battled to get the fire under control and rescue those inside.
Sadly, Demi, Brandon and Lacie died in the fire. Lia was taken to hospital but tragically died later.
Michelle Pearson remains in hospital receiving treatment for her injuries and has only recently been well enough to be told about the deaths of her four children.
During the course of a four week trial, the court heard how Bolland, Worrall and Brierley made homemade petrol bombs in the kitchen of a nearby address.
Brierley then waited in a nearby car while Bolland and Worrall smashed through the kitchen window of the Pearson’s home and threw homemade petrol bombs into the kitchen and living room.
This left no possibility of escape for the young children or their mother as the house was immediately engulfed in flames.
Detective Chief Inspector Lewis Hughes from GMP’s Major Incident Team said: “This is one of the most heart breaking cases I have ever dealt with.
“I am glad that the sentences these three have received today reflect their atrocious acts, but nothing can change what has happened and nothing can bring back the children.
“I would like to commend the bravery of the children’s family. I can’t even begin to imagine what they have been through.
“My thoughts will always be with their mother Michelle, along with their father, brothers and wider family and friends.
“They have all shown a phenomenal amount of strength during the most devastating of circumstances.
“When Bolland, Worrall and Brierley planned their attack, they knew that innocent children were asleep in their beds.
“They smashed the kitchen window and threw their handmade petrol bombs inside. The fire spread so quickly and the heat was so intense that the smoke alarms melted before they had chance to sound. This left the family with virtually no chance of escape.
“Understandably the children’s family will still have questions which we will continue to try and answer.
“Michelle Pearson is still in hospital and will be for some time to come. I wish her the very best with her recovery.
“I hope achieving some justice can give her a small amount of peace in these most difficult and tragic circumstances.
“The children’s family should now be given the time to grieve and finally lay the children to rest.”