South Shields Fire Trial
Brother guilty of sisters' deaths in fire attack on home
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| GUILTY: Shane Spence |
A TEENAGER is facing years behind bars after he was convicted of killing his two sisters by starting a fire in the family home.
Demi Jade Spence, 12, and her sister Tatum Leah, 14, died when their home was set alight as they slept, in the early hours of April 4, last year.
Prosecutors said their brother, Shane, 18, crept into the house and ignited petrol he had poured over a settee.
After almost 11 hours of deliberation, jurors yesterday cleared him of two charges of murder, but found him guilty of two charges of manslaughter of his sisters.
He was also cleared of two charges of attempting to murder his parents, but found guilty of arson.
Sentencing was adjourned for six weeks for the preparation of a pre-sentence and psychiatric report.
Mr and Mrs Spence escaped the blaze at their home in Lisle Road, South Shields, South Tyneside, but Mr Spence suffered burns to more than 40 per cent of his body.
The girls' mother, Anita Spence, 37, had told jurors at Newcastle Crown Court how she tried to run back into her burning home to rescue her trapped daughters.
After the trial, police explained how their investigation led them to Shane Spence.
Detective Chief Inspector Mick Paterson said: "He (Shane) was staying at a friend's house in East Close watching the film, 28 Days Later, on Film 4.
"At one point in the evening he told his friend he needed to call into Lisle Road to pick up a CD.
"His friend described the point in the film when Spence left the house, and the point in the film when he returned. By contacting Film 4 and describing exactly those scenes, they were able to give us specific times for Spence leaving East Close, arriving at Lisle Road and coming back to East Close. That clearly put him at the scene of the fire at the time it started, and he was brought in for questioning."
Det Chief Insp Paterson then set about re-constructing the fire. Some similar properties nearby due for demolition meant that a house similar to the Spence house could be created.
The reconstruction was filmed from several angles and the information was matched to witness statements
Det Chief Insp Paterson said: "Shane Spence has always denied any part in this fire, but he was always our only suspect and has been found guilty of manslaughter.
"He will be sentenced in due course but, whatever the length of his prison term, he will carry with him the knowledge that he has been found guilty of causing the deaths of his two sisters."
2:02am Tuesday 19th February 2008
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