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A mourner throws flower petals as coffins leave the funeral service of the Philpott children held at St Mary's RC Church on Bridgegate, Derby on 22 June. Rui Vieira/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Deaths
Charges against Philpotts over deadly fire downgraded to manslaughter
Mick and Mairead Philpott’s six children died in the house fire in Derby on 11 May.
THE PARENTS OF six children, who died in a horrific house fire in Derby, England on 11 May, will now face manslaughter charges.
According to BBC News, Mick and Mairead Philpott were told the charges had been downgraded from murder at Birmingham Crown Court earlier today.
The couple has denied all charges against them. They were not in court but appeared via videolink. A third defendant, Paul Mosley, was in the docks. He also denied six charges of manslaughter. The 45-year-old had also previously been charged with murder.
All three will face trial in February 2013.
Five of the children – Jayden aged 5, Jessie aged 6, Jack aged 8, John aged 9, and Jade aged 10 – died in the fire in the early hours of 11 May. The sixth child, 13-year-old Dwayne died in hospital two days later.
The fire is believed to have been started using petrol close to the front door of the home.
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