South Shields Fire Trial
Murder suspect left note in failed suicide attempt
SHANE SPENCE left a note for his family during a suicide bid only days before the fire that killed his two sisters, a murder trial heard.
Mr Spence, who is accused of starting the fire that killed the girls, survived an overdose of painkillers four days before the blaze in which Demi Jade, 12, and Tatum Leah, 14, died.
The 18-year-old denies starting the fire at the family home in Lisle Road, South Shields, South Tyneside, in the early hours of April 4, last year.
He denies two charges of murder and two of attempted murder in relation to his parents, John and Anita, both 37.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that on March 31, Mr Spence had been involved in a violent row with his girlfriend, Lorraine Bruce, and had pushed her to the ground during the incident. Later that day, he took the overdose and left a suicide note for his family and Ms Bruce, the mother of his baby.
In the note, Mr Spence used his pet name for Tatum Leah, which was Spud. He wrote: "To Lorraine, I love you and (the baby) so much.
You are a great mam and I'm sorry for what I have said and done. You are right, (the baby) doesn't deserve a dad like me in her life. That's why I've done this, I'm so sorry.
"Mam, dad, Demi and Spud, I love you so much. I can't live with myself for what I've done and said to Lorraine. I'm sorry, take care of Lorraine and (the baby) and the family. I'm so sorry, lots of love from Shane."
Mr Spence told jurors: "I felt ashamed and I didn't deserve to live at that point."
The trial continues.
5:17pm Wednesday 13th February 2008
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