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Philpott fire: The trial so far

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Thursday, March 07, 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 potential witnesses was read out.

  1. Mairead Philpott

    Mairead Philpott

  2. The Philpott children Duwayne, 13, top left; John, 9, top right; Jack, 8, bottom right; Jesse, 6, bottom  second from left; Jade, 10; bottom second from right and Jayden, five, bottom right.

    The Philpott children Duwayne, 13, top left; John, 9, top right; Jack, 8, bottom right; Jesse, 6, bottom second from left; Jade, 10; bottom second from right and Jayden, five, bottom right.

  3. The Philpotts From left, top, Jayden, Jesse and Jack. From left (bottom) John, Jade and Duwaye

    The Philpotts From left, top, Jayden, Jesse and Jack. From left (bottom) John, Jade and Duwaye

DAY 2, TUE, FEB 12

The case against the Philpotts and Mosley was opened by the prosecution. Richard Latham QC told the court the trio started the blaze as part of a plan to frame Philpott's former lover, Lisa Willis, "that went horribly wrong".

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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.

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.

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.

DAY 6, TUE, FEB 19

Sarah Osborne, wife of Derby 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".

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."

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".

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.

DAY 10, MON, FEB 25

Mairead Philpott was high on cannabis on the night fire claimed the lives of her six children, the court was told. Witness Vicky Ferguson said Mairead was "stoned" only hours before the blaze started.

DAY 11, TUE, FEB 26

Mick Philpott's behaviour, when he went to visit his dead children, was described by witness Marie Smith, hospital mortuary manager, as like "nothing she had ever experienced before". She said he brought a large group of people with him and the visit was "like a circus".

DAY 12, WED, FEB 27

Mick Philpott's friend, Paul Mosley, was allegedly overheard saying: "I can't let Mick take all the blame". And PC Joanna Halford told the court that Philpott wore the death of his children as a "badge of honour".

DAY 13, THU, FEB 28

The night before Mick Philpott was to hold a press conference about the deaths of his six children, he was bugged telling his wife "you make sure you stick to your story," the court heard.

DAY 14, FRI, MAR 1

The court was told how fire sniffer dog Freckle, trained to locate ignitable liquid, searched 18 Victory Road. Station manager Mat Lee said "the fire was on the inside of the hallway rather than the outside".

DAY 15, MON, MAR 4

The sleeping Philpott children would have been overcome by smoke so quickly they would never have regained consciousness, the jury was told. Prosecutor Richard Latham QC said it was "a blessing" that the children were likely unaware of the fire.

DAY 16, TUE, MAR 5

Traces of the type of petrol found at the seat of the fire at 18 Victory Road were also discovered on the trainer and boxer shorts of Mick Philpott, the court was told.

*THE PHILPOTT TRIAL: Visit our Philpott trial channel here for all related stories in the fire death case.

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