THE parents of six children killed in a house fire appeared in court today charged with their murders.
Mick Philpott, 55, and his wife Mairead, 31, appeared at Derby Magistrates’ Court charged with murder following the fire at the house on Victory Road in Allenton, Derby, on May 11.
Their children Jade, 10, and brothers John, 9, Jack, 7, Jessie, 6, and Jayden, 5, all died in the fire, and a sixth sibling Duwayne, 13, died of his injuries in Birmingham Children’s Hospital two days later.
A man and a woman had to be escorted from the court after shouting “scum” during the 10-minute hearing.
The Philpotts, who showed no emotion as they stood in the dock, were remanded into custody.
They will appear at Nottingham Crown Court tomorrow.
Speaking after the pair were charged, Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill stressed that the police investigation was ongoing and urged anyone with information about the blaze at the family’s Victory Road home to contact Derbyshire Constabulary.
He said: “Following the appeal yesterday a number of people have come forward with more information but I want to stress that the two charges should not be seen as the end of the investigation.
“We are determined to get to the truth of what happened.”
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: “The evidence was reviewed by a Crown Advocate from the CPS East Midlands Complex Casework Unit, who decided that there was sufficient evidence to charge.
“It is important to note that the defendants are entitled to a fair trial and nothing should be said or reported that would prejudice that right.”