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Derby fire deaths: Mick Philpott weeps as court hears 999 call Derby fire deaths: Mick Philpott weeps as court hears 999 call
(8 days later)
A father of 17 who is accused of killing six of his children in a house fire collapsed in the witness box on Wednesday as he listened to a 999 call made as the blaze took hold.A father of 17 who is accused of killing six of his children in a house fire collapsed in the witness box on Wednesday as he listened to a 999 call made as the blaze took hold.
Mick Philpott, 56, slumped in his seat and wept audibly as the jury at Nottingham crown court heard the emergency call made by himself and his wife Mairead in the early hours of 11 May last year as the blaze engulfed their home in Derby.Mick Philpott, 56, slumped in his seat and wept audibly as the jury at Nottingham crown court heard the emergency call made by himself and his wife Mairead in the early hours of 11 May last year as the blaze engulfed their home in Derby.
Philpott told the court that he had not started the fire which killed six of his children: Jade, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, Jayden, five, and Duwayne, 13. Philpott, his 31-year-old wife and their friend Paul Mosley, 46, each deny six counts of manslaughter.Philpott told the court that he had not started the fire which killed six of his children: Jade, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, Jayden, five, and Duwayne, 13. Philpott, his 31-year-old wife and their friend Paul Mosley, 46, each deny six counts of manslaughter.
Giving evidence in his defence Philpott described how he tried to reach his children who were in the upstairs bedrooms of his home in Victory Road.Giving evidence in his defence Philpott described how he tried to reach his children who were in the upstairs bedrooms of his home in Victory Road.
Anthony Orchard QC, defending Philpott, asked him: "What was your first thought when you realised there was a fire?"Anthony Orchard QC, defending Philpott, asked him: "What was your first thought when you realised there was a fire?"
Philpott replied: "My kids."Philpott replied: "My kids."
The lawyer said: "What did you want to do in relation to your children?"The lawyer said: "What did you want to do in relation to your children?"
Philpott said: "I wanted to get to them."Philpott said: "I wanted to get to them."
Unable to get out of the front of the house, he said, he and his wife headed towards the back and he rang 999, before putting on his boxer shorts and a pair of Derby County tracksuit bottoms and heading outside.Unable to get out of the front of the house, he said, he and his wife headed towards the back and he rang 999, before putting on his boxer shorts and a pair of Derby County tracksuit bottoms and heading outside.
He attempted to reach the children with a ladder but could not smash the glass.He attempted to reach the children with a ladder but could not smash the glass.
Asked how he felt, he replied: "I was hysterical. How do you explain trying to get in to your babies? You can't explain it."Asked how he felt, he replied: "I was hysterical. How do you explain trying to get in to your babies? You can't explain it."
Philpott managed to break the glass with a wrench but said he could not get in because the hole was no bigger than his head.Philpott managed to break the glass with a wrench but said he could not get in because the hole was no bigger than his head.
As the 999 call was played, the screams of Mairead Philpott on the line to the emergency services could be heard in court.As the 999 call was played, the screams of Mairead Philpott on the line to the emergency services could be heard in court.
Philpott told the court he had nothing to do with starting the fire.Philpott told the court he had nothing to do with starting the fire.
Orchard asked: "Did you set the fire?"Orchard asked: "Did you set the fire?"
"No," he said."No," he said.
"Are you connected to the setting of the fire?""Are you connected to the setting of the fire?"
"No," he replied again."No," he replied again.
Orchard asked: "Do you know who did?"Orchard asked: "Do you know who did?"
"No.""No."
"Do you have your suspicions?""Do you have your suspicions?"
"I do," Philpott answered."I do," Philpott answered.
Prosecutors have alleged the three defendants started the fire in a botched plan to frame Philpott's ex-girlfriend Lisa Willis, 29, who had left him and taken her five children with her, four of whom were Philpott's.Prosecutors have alleged the three defendants started the fire in a botched plan to frame Philpott's ex-girlfriend Lisa Willis, 29, who had left him and taken her five children with her, four of whom were Philpott's.
Philpott had lived in the house with Mairead and Lisa and both women were his lovers, an arrangement he admitted that neighbours found "disgusting". On the night of the fire Mosley had arrived at their home at 7.30pm and all three of them had had sex.Philpott had lived in the house with Mairead and Lisa and both women were his lovers, an arrangement he admitted that neighbours found "disgusting". On the night of the fire Mosley had arrived at their home at 7.30pm and all three of them had had sex.
The case continues.The case continues.
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