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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Bully row 'led to arson murders' | Bully row 'led to arson murders' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A couple were murdered in an arson attack on their home over a school bullying row involving their daughter, Manchester Crown Court has heard. | A couple were murdered in an arson attack on their home over a school bullying row involving their daughter, Manchester Crown Court has heard. |
| Maureen Cochrane, 45, and her husband Alex, 54, were killed in the fire in Wythenshawe, Manchester, in January but their daughter Lucy, 16, survived. | |
| Michael Connor, 40, of Offerton, admits starting the blaze and two counts of manslaughter, but denies murder. | |
| Prosecutors claim he went back several times to "survey his handiwork". | Prosecutors claim he went back several times to "survey his handiwork". |
| The court heard Connor was egged on by his ex-wife Jane, 40, and daughter Natalie after playground rows between the two girls developed into a "campaign of harassment" by the Connors. | The court heard Connor was egged on by his ex-wife Jane, 40, and daughter Natalie after playground rows between the two girls developed into a "campaign of harassment" by the Connors. |
| The jury was told Natalie Connor had fallen out with Lucy Cochrane when the girls were pupils at Newall Green School in 2005. | The jury was told Natalie Connor had fallen out with Lucy Cochrane when the girls were pupils at Newall Green School in 2005. |
| Distress call | Distress call |
| At about 0030 GMT on 12 January, Michael Connor went to the victims' home, poured petrol through the letterbox and lit the fire, Alistair Webster QC, prosecuting, told the court. | At about 0030 GMT on 12 January, Michael Connor went to the victims' home, poured petrol through the letterbox and lit the fire, Alistair Webster QC, prosecuting, told the court. |
| The hallway of the terrace was engulfed in flames within seconds and witnesses said they saw Connor minutes before and "three or four times after" the blaze. | The hallway of the terrace was engulfed in flames within seconds and witnesses said they saw Connor minutes before and "three or four times after" the blaze. |
| The house was left badly damaged by the blaze | The house was left badly damaged by the blaze |
| When fire crews arrived Mrs Cochrane was dead. Her husband was rescued but died in hospital. | When fire crews arrived Mrs Cochrane was dead. Her husband was rescued but died in hospital. |
| The court was told that five days before the fire, a liquid was poured on the Cochranes' front door. | The court was told that five days before the fire, a liquid was poured on the Cochranes' front door. |
| The incident was reported to the police but the liquid was not tested. | The incident was reported to the police but the liquid was not tested. |
| 'Obsessive enmity' | 'Obsessive enmity' |
| All three defendants were seen in a nearby pub in the hours leading up to the blaze, the court heard. | All three defendants were seen in a nearby pub in the hours leading up to the blaze, the court heard. |
| Mrs Connor was seen buying all the drinks, which Mr Webster suggested was giving her ex-husband "Dutch courage". | Mrs Connor was seen buying all the drinks, which Mr Webster suggested was giving her ex-husband "Dutch courage". |
| The "obsessive enmity" of Jane and Natalie Connor for Lucy Cochrane and her family was the motive for the attack, he said. | The "obsessive enmity" of Jane and Natalie Connor for Lucy Cochrane and her family was the motive for the attack, he said. |
| "It is a tragedy of epic proportions that this young vulnerable girl has lost her parents and suffered serious injury and it arose from, and was motivated by, such a trivial and nonsensical cause." | "It is a tragedy of epic proportions that this young vulnerable girl has lost her parents and suffered serious injury and it arose from, and was motivated by, such a trivial and nonsensical cause." |
| Lucy Cochrane, 16, survived the fire | |
| Giving evidence at the trial on Thursday, Connor's former partner Cheryl Coombes said she had picked him up "stinking of petrol" after the fire. | |
| "He said that his children were having a problem at school and that Jane had asked him to sort it out," she told the court. | |
| Connor, of Hall Street, Offerton, admits two counts of manslaughter but told police he never meant to harm anyone by his actions. | |
| He also denies the attempted murder of Lucy and a single count of grievous bodily harm with intent towards the teenager. | |
| Patrick Cosgrove QC, for Mr Connor, said his client admitted the charge of arson. | Patrick Cosgrove QC, for Mr Connor, said his client admitted the charge of arson. |
| Jane Connor and her daughter Natalie Connor, of Wellfield Road, Brooklands, deny two counts of murder, one of attempted murder of Lucy, and a single count of grievous bodily harm with intent towards Lucy. | Jane Connor and her daughter Natalie Connor, of Wellfield Road, Brooklands, deny two counts of murder, one of attempted murder of Lucy, and a single count of grievous bodily harm with intent towards Lucy. |
| The women also both deny two counts of manslaughter, and a single count of arson. | The women also both deny two counts of manslaughter, and a single count of arson. |
| Jane Connor's mother, Margaret Robinson, 66, admitted a single charge of perverting the course of justice on Wednesday. | Jane Connor's mother, Margaret Robinson, 66, admitted a single charge of perverting the course of justice on Wednesday. |
| The trial has been adjourned and is expected to reconvene on Monday. |