South Shields Fire Trial
'I did not start the fire that killed my sisters'
A TEENAGER told jurors yesterday he was not responsible for starting a fire that killed his two younger sisters.
Shane Spence is accused of sparking a blaze at his family home in Lisle Road, South Shields, which cost the lives of Demi Jade Spence, 12, and Tatum Leah, 14.
The 18-year-old denies two charges of murder and two of attempting to murder his parents, John and Anita, and is being tried by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.
Spence told jurors he had a close relationship with the girls, who he loved. When asked if he started the fire, he said: "No, I did not."
The teenager told jurors he could not at first believe his sisters had been killed in the blaze, despite being told of the tragedy by his mother at the hospital.
He said: "I didn't want to believe her, so I was trying to ask the nurse when the police would be here to tell me about them and the police told me."
Spence told the court he was at the house in the early hours, shortly before the fire started, to look for a CD, but left after a few minutes when he was unable to find it.
He was first arrested hours after the blaze and released on bail after questioning.
One aunt told jurors of an incident during a visit to John Spence, who had been seriously ill at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.
The aunt told the court she had been taunted by Spence, who she said then held lighter to her face.
Spence told jurors yesterday that incident never happened and added that he would never have put his sisters or his parents in danger.
The trial continues.
12:20pm Tuesday 12th February 2008
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