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'No threats made' says son of fire death woman

Marc GaierNorth West
News imageFamily photo Sheila Jackson, who has blonde hair, is photographed while hugging her partner Peter Greener, who has swept-back grey hair. They are both smiling.Family photo
Sheila Jackson and Peter Greener died when their house was set on fire

The son of a woman who died in a fire at her home has told jurors no threats had been made by a man accused of ordering the arson attack which claimed the lives of his mother and her partner.

Sheila Jackson, 83, and Eric Greener, 77, died days after the 15 July 2025 fire on South John Street in St Helens, Merseyside.

Liverpool Crown Court has been told that while Lee Owens has admitted starting the fire, he - along with Kevin Weetman and Kylie Maynard - denied murder.

It is alleged that Weetman had wanted payment for cocaine from George Jackson, who thought it had been a gift.

News imageImage shows police and forensics vehicles outside the home of Sheila Jackson and Peter Greener in South John Street, St Helens, in the days after the blaze.
The fire followed a dispute about a drugs debt, Liverpool Crown Court has been told

Jackson, giving evidence from behind a screen, recalled how he ran back to his parents' house after a friend had told him it was on fire.

Once there, he found both his mum and step-dad lying on a grass verge outside their house.

Jackson broke down in tears as he recalled seeing firefighters bringing his pet dog, which had died, out of the property.

Initially Jackson told police he could not think why anyone would attack the house.

But, in a later statement, he said he remembered being asked for payment by Weetman and to sell drugs for him.

Under cross examination from Weetman's barrister, however, Jackson accepted no threats had been made.

He refused to accept that linking Weetman to the elderly couple's deaths had been a suggestion made to him by police.

The trial continues.

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