Three guilty of killing fire death couple

Three people have been cleared of the murder of an elderly couple who died after an arson attack at their home last summer.

Sheila Jackson, 83, and Eric Greener, 77, died when their house in South John Street, St Helens, was set alight on 15 July last year.

Kevin Weetman, 34, and Kylie Maynard, 37, both from Liverpool, were found guilty of manslaughter, with the third defendant Lee Owens, 46, of no fixed abode, having already admitted the same charge.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the fire was ordered by Weetman, a drug dealer, over a cocaine debt he felt he was owed by Mrs Jackson's son. Weetman and Maynard also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.

The house was targeted from information provided by Maynard who worked for Weetman.

Lee Owens and Paul Smith, who has since died, set fire to the front door of the house and the blaze spread rapidly.

George Jackson was out when the fire was set, but his mother and her partner died in the blaze.

Weetman, Maynard and Owens will be sentenced on Thursday 19 February.

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