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Philpott fire: The trial so far

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Tuesday, February 26, 2013
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Derby Telegraph

DAY 1, MON, FEB 11

A jury panel of 60 was whittled down to 18 at Nottingham Crown Court and a list of more than 100 names of potential witnesses was read out.

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DAY 2, TUE, FEB 12

The final jurors were chosen and the case against the Philpotts and Mosley was opened by the prosecution. Richard Latham QC told the court that the trio started the blaze as part of a plan to frame Philpott's former lover, Lisa Willis, "that went horribly wrong". On the morning of the fire, Ms Willis and Philpott had been due in court to discuss residency of the four children they had together.

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DAY 3, WED, FEB 13

Philpott tried to leave the dock and was made to sit down as the 999 call made by the couple as the fire took hold was played to the jury. Ms Willis, who had lived with the couple at Victory Road, gave evidence behind a screen and said she and Mairead had taken turns at spending the night with him. She also said she treated Mairead's children like her own and was devastated to hear of their deaths.

DAY 4, THU, FEB 14

Under cross-examination, Ms Willis said that Philpott "was a good father" and would not do anything to endanger them. But she also said he had attacked her with a piece of wood. The court also heard from another former partner of Philpott, Heather Kehoe, who said he had been violent towards her.

DAY 5, FRI, FEB 15

Mairead had an abortion after having sex with another man while Philpott watched, according to witness Claire Tyler, a former colleague. Amanda Cousins, the sister of Ms Willis, also gave evidence. She denied making threats to kill or shoot Philpott during an altercation outside her home in March last year when he arrived there trying to see his children.

DAY 6, TUE, FEB 19

Sarah Osborne, wife of Derby's professional darts player, Colin Osborne, told the court she travelled to a darts match with Philpott in April last year when he took a phone call and announced to the bus that "someone has threatened to torch my house and kids". Other passengers also gave evidence that he said: "My ex has threatened to petrol-bomb my house." PC Lucy Moorcroft told the court she had been called to Philpott's house after he complained Ms Willis had been making threats. He was "angry" when Ms Willis was not arrested.

DAY 7, WED, FEB 20

Neighbour Chantelle Harriet told the court she had visited the Philpotts about two weeks before the fire and Philpott "was bragging and boasting that Lisa was going to set fire to the house". Friend Charlotte Bright said that she had seen Philpott rubbing his hands together and saying: "I have got a plan." The court also heard from paramedic Samantha Phelan, who visited the Philpotts after Mairead allegedly took an overdose in February. She told the court Philpott did not seem "at all concerned" about his wife.

DAY 8, THU, FEB 21

The court heard from police and firefighters who attended the fire. Firefighters said the house was full of smoke and there were child casualties "everywhere". Many returned to the burning house several times to try to rescue the children.

DAY 9, FRI, FEB 22:

Neighbour Daniel Stevenson told how he made three attempts to get into the burning house, after being woken in the early hours and racing to the scene in his pyjamas. Mr Stevenson got into the conservatory but was beaten back by thick smoke, and made two separate attempts to smash his way in through an upstairs window, but was again defeated by the smoke. Philpott had made his own attempts to smash through an upstairs window.

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