An elderly couple perished in a deliberate fire at their residence, although they were not the intended targets, according to statements made in court. Eric Greener, 77, and Sheila Jackson, 83, lost their lives in a fire in St Helens last July. Three individuals, Kevin Weetman, Lee Owens, and Kylie Maynard, faced accusations of murdering the couple in a court appearance at Liverpool Crown Court. A fourth person, Paul Smith, who was responsible for igniting the fire, has since passed away.
Owens, aged 46, confessed to his part in starting the fire but claimed his intention was solely to cause damage to the property. Weetman, 34, and Maynard, 37, denied any involvement in setting the fire, alleging that they had attempted to deceive Ms. Jackson’s son into working for them as a drug dealer, as per the Liverpool Echo.
During the prosecution’s opening statement, Nigel Power KC informed a jury that Paul Smith and Lee Owens set fire to the house where Eric and Sheila resided. While emergency services managed to rescue the couple from the flames, they succumbed to their injuries shortly after. The prosecution emphasized that Eric and Sheila were not the intended targets of the fire.
The court was informed that Weetman and Maynard had tried to recruit Sheila’s son, George Jackson, to work for Weetman as a drug dealer about a month before the fatal blaze. Despite initially helping Kylie when she was robbed of drugs, George declined the drug dealing offer presented by Weetman. The situation escalated when Weetman demanded payment for the drugs, leading to the tragic events that caused the deaths of Eric and Sheila.
Weetman, Owens, and Maynard all denied the murder charges brought against them. The trial is ongoing.
