TWO men have been jailed for life for the murder of four children who died after their house was petrol bombed.
Zak Bolland, 23, of Blackleach Drive, Worsley and David Worrall, 26, of Worsley Avenue, Worsley were today found guilty of murder at Manchester Crown Court.
Siblings Demi Pearson, 15, Brandon Pearson, 8 and Lacie Pearson, 7, died during the arson attack on their home in Walkden, Salford, Greater Manchester shortly before 5am on December 11, 2017.
Their three-year-old sister Lia Pearson died in hospital two days later.
Bolland will serve a minimum of 40 years in prison and Worrall a minimum of 37 years.
Bolland was also found guilty of the attempted murder of the children’s mum, Michelle Pearson, their 16-year-old brother Kyle Pearson, and his 16-year-old friend Bobby Harris.
Coma
Worrall was also found guilty of three counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent on the same three people.
A third person, 20-year-old Courtney Brierley of Worsley Avenue, Worsley was found guilty of the manslaughter of Demi, Brandon, Lacie and Lia and sentenced to 21 years in prison.
Michelle Pearson remains in hospital having spent several months in a coma and has only recently been well enough to be told about the deaths of her four children.
Demi (top left), Lacie (bottom left), Brandon (centre) and Lia (right) (Image: GMP)During the course of a four-week trial, the court heard how Bolland, Worrall and Brierley made homemade petrol bombs on the night of the attack, which was motivated by a petty feud between Bolland and Kyle Pearson.
Brierley then waited in a nearby car while Bolland and Worrall smashed through the kitchen window of the Pearsons’ home and threw the petrol bombs into the kitchen and living room.
This left no possibility of escape as the house was immediately engulfed in flames.
'Heartbreaking'
Detective Chief Inspector Lewis Hughes from Greater Manchester Police’s Major Incident Team said: “This is one of the most heartbreaking cases I have ever dealt with.
“I am glad that the sentences these three have received today reflect their atrocious acts, but nothing can change what has happened and nothing can bring back the children.
“I would like to commend the bravery of the children’s family. I can’t even begin to imagine what they have been through.”
He added: “When Bolland, Worrall and Brierley planned their attack, they knew that innocent children were asleep in their beds.
“They smashed the kitchen window and threw their handmade petrol bombs inside.
“The fire spread so quickly and the heat was so intense that the smoke alarms melted before they had chance to sound.
“This left the family with virtually no chance of escape.”
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