Two appear in court charged with murder following Salford house fire
Zak Bolland and Courtney Brierley face a number of charges.
Last updated 14th Dec 2017
Two people have been charged with murder after a house fire in which three children died. 14 year old Demi Pearson, her seven year old sister Lacie and their eight-year-old brother Brandon died in the blaze in Walkden on Monday.
Zak Bolland, 23, of Blackleach Drive, Worsley, has been charged with three counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder and one count of arson with intent to endanger life.
Courtney Brierley, 20, of Worsley Avenue, Worsley, has been charged with the same offences.
Bolland and Brierley have appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court and are due to appear before the Crown Court on Thursday.
Police made six arrests in the hours following the suspected arson attack on Jackson Street at around 5am.
The 35-year-old mother of the children is still in a serious condition in hospital and is unaware that three of her children have died. Her three year old girl is also critically ill in hospital.
Two 16-year-old boys were also in the house but managed to escape before fire crews arrived.
Since the tragedy, sources have confirmed that the family was living under threat.
Security measures were put in place including the fitting of a device to the property's letterbox.
The arrangements, known as target hardening, are generally used to strengthen a building to protect it in the event of an attack.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed there had been "earlier incidents'' at the address and said the force had referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
It is understood the voluntary referral was in response to police contact with the family less than 24 hours before the incident.
The IPCC investigation is under way and is expected to focus on the contact between Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the family after officers were called to the address in the hours before the fire.
Chief Superintendent Wayne Miller, of GMP, speaking at press conference on Tuesday, said: "I can't imagine what the family are going through.
"My heart breaks for them, it really does.''
Mr Miller said the force was "so grateful to members of the public who have come forward and given us information'' and said there was a greater police presence on the streets as a result of the attack.
Emma Henderson, headteacher at Bridgewater Primary School, which Brandon and Lacie attended, said: "We are consoling our pupils and their families and send our deepest sympathies and prayers to all those affected.''
Drew Povey, head of Harrop Fold School, where Demi was a pupil, said: "We are all truly devastated by the loss of precious life that our community has recently suffered. Words seem inadequate in these tragic circumstances.
"The spirit of Salford cannot and will not be crushed. We will work together to comfort and rebuild those lives that have been forever changed.'