Two charged with murder after elderly couple killed in St Helens house fire
Merseyside Police say two more suspects face murder, arson and drug-supply conspiracy charges after July blaze that killed a 77-year-old man and his 83-year-old partner.
Two people have been charged with murder after an arson attack on a house in St Helens that left an elderly couple dead, Merseyside Police said on Tuesday.
Emergency services were called to a property on South John Street at about 12:40 a.m. on July 15 after reports of a house fire. Eric Greener, 77, and his partner, Sheila Jackson, 83, were found in the home and taken to hospital; police said both later died that evening.
Police said Kevin Weetman, 34, of Aigburth, and Kylie Maynard, 37, of Everton have been charged with arson, two counts of murder and conspiring to murder. The pair also face charges of conspiring to supply a controlled Class A drug, cocaine. Merseyside Police said both defendants have been remanded into custody and are due to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Lee Owens, 46, had previously been charged with two counts of murder and arson with intent to endanger life. He remains in custody and is due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on Nov. 28. Police said seven other people have been arrested in connection with the incident so far.
Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath said the investigation was progressing and warned that it remained live. "I would like to take this opportunity to remind people that this is a live investigation, and to be mindful that anything posted or shared on social media could jeopardise proceedings, so please support us as we move forward with the case," he said in a statement.
McGrath urged anyone with information who had not yet contacted police to come forward, saying the best way to help was to pass information through official channels so it could be properly assessed. He thanked members of the public who had assisted the inquiry to date.
Those with information have been asked to contact Merseyside Police via its dedicated webpage or social media account @MerPolCC, to call 101 quoting incident reference 25000580909, or to report information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Merseyside Police said it would continue to make enquiries as the criminal proceedings progress.
The charges follow a multi-month inquiry into the July blaze that killed two people and prompted a complex investigation involving arrests and forensic work. Court appearances for the newly charged suspects were scheduled within days of the charges being announced, while the previously charged defendant faces a Crown Court hearing later in the year.