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| Mick Philpott accused of starting house fire to 'rescue children and be a hero' | Mick Philpott accused of starting house fire to 'rescue children and be a hero' |
| (4 months later) | |
| A father has told a court he did not want to be seen as a hero for rescuing his six children from a blaze at his home which he is accused of setting. | A father has told a court he did not want to be seen as a hero for rescuing his six children from a blaze at his home which he is accused of setting. |
| Mick Philpott denied plotting the fire at his home on Victory Road in Derby last year and said he did not want to be seen as a hero for trying to save them from the blaze. | Mick Philpott denied plotting the fire at his home on Victory Road in Derby last year and said he did not want to be seen as a hero for trying to save them from the blaze. |
| In cross-examination, the prosecutor Richard Latham QC accused Philpott of using petrol to set the fire at the bottom of his stairs before going to rescue the children. "You lit it at the bottom of the stairs. Your plan was to go out and rescue your children and be a hero," Latham said. | In cross-examination, the prosecutor Richard Latham QC accused Philpott of using petrol to set the fire at the bottom of his stairs before going to rescue the children. "You lit it at the bottom of the stairs. Your plan was to go out and rescue your children and be a hero," Latham said. |
| He said: "You were going to unlock the window and be a hero and a victim at the same time." | He said: "You were going to unlock the window and be a hero and a victim at the same time." |
| Philpott replied: "Definitely not." | Philpott replied: "Definitely not." |
| The 56-year-old is accused of six counts of manslaughter along with his 31-year-old wife, Mairead, and a third defendant, Paul Mosley, 47, following the blaze at their home on 11 May last year which claimed the lives of their six children. The three deny the charges. | The 56-year-old is accused of six counts of manslaughter along with his 31-year-old wife, Mairead, and a third defendant, Paul Mosley, 47, following the blaze at their home on 11 May last year which claimed the lives of their six children. The three deny the charges. |
| The prosecution has alleged Philpott set the fire to frame his former mistress Lisa Willis after she walked out of the family home in February taking her five children with her, four of which he fathered. The court has heard Philpott was set to face Willis in court on the day of the fatal blaze in May over residency of the five children. | The prosecution has alleged Philpott set the fire to frame his former mistress Lisa Willis after she walked out of the family home in February taking her five children with her, four of which he fathered. The court has heard Philpott was set to face Willis in court on the day of the fatal blaze in May over residency of the five children. |
| The court has heard how following his arrest, Philpott told police they may find traces of petrol on his clothing because he had lent a strimmer and a can of petrol to a neighbour in the days leading up to the fire. But Latham said: "That's the one thing that couldn't have contaminated your clothing isn't it?" | The court has heard how following his arrest, Philpott told police they may find traces of petrol on his clothing because he had lent a strimmer and a can of petrol to a neighbour in the days leading up to the fire. But Latham said: "That's the one thing that couldn't have contaminated your clothing isn't it?" |
| The lawyer told the court that the strimmer used Texaco petrol, which was also in the can. The court has heard traces of Total petrol have been found on clothing belonging to all three of the defendants and in the U-bend of the kitchen sink following the fire. | The lawyer told the court that the strimmer used Texaco petrol, which was also in the can. The court has heard traces of Total petrol have been found on clothing belonging to all three of the defendants and in the U-bend of the kitchen sink following the fire. |
| "How did you end up with Total residue in the U-bend of the kitchen sink?" Latham asked Philpott. | "How did you end up with Total residue in the U-bend of the kitchen sink?" Latham asked Philpott. |
| "I have no idea," Philpott replied. | "I have no idea," Philpott replied. |
| Latham alleged Philpott washed his hands on the night of the fire after using petrol to set the blaze. | Latham alleged Philpott washed his hands on the night of the fire after using petrol to set the blaze. |
| "You washed your hands that night at the sink didn't you?" Latham asked Philpott in the witness box. | "You washed your hands that night at the sink didn't you?" Latham asked Philpott in the witness box. |
| The lawyer went on: "You used petrol to start this fire didn't you? You put it there." | The lawyer went on: "You used petrol to start this fire didn't you? You put it there." |
| Philpott, who is in the witness box for a third day, replied: "No." | Philpott, who is in the witness box for a third day, replied: "No." |
| Previously in his evidence, Philpott has claimed that he and his wife had received silent calls from a withheld number in the weeks leading up to the fire. But Latham accused him of "cooking up" the calls as part of the plan. | Previously in his evidence, Philpott has claimed that he and his wife had received silent calls from a withheld number in the weeks leading up to the fire. But Latham accused him of "cooking up" the calls as part of the plan. |
| The prosecutor claimed Philpott was "upping his plan" in the weeks before the fire and telling parents at the school gates he was confident he would get the children back from Willis. Latham said: "You told them you had a plan up your sleeve didn't you? She wasn't going to get away with it – that's Lisa isn't it?" | The prosecutor claimed Philpott was "upping his plan" in the weeks before the fire and telling parents at the school gates he was confident he would get the children back from Willis. Latham said: "You told them you had a plan up your sleeve didn't you? She wasn't going to get away with it – that's Lisa isn't it?" |
| Philpott has also told the court that he received death threats from Willis's family in the lead up to the fire. Latham claimed Philpott hoped to link the fire to the threats. "The whole purpose of this fire was to link it to the threat," he said. Philpott denied the claims and said he would not endanger the lives of his six children. | Philpott has also told the court that he received death threats from Willis's family in the lead up to the fire. Latham claimed Philpott hoped to link the fire to the threats. "The whole purpose of this fire was to link it to the threat," he said. Philpott denied the claims and said he would not endanger the lives of his six children. |
| Jade Philpott, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, all died in the fire at their home. Their brother Duwayne, 13, died two days later at Birmingham children's hospital. | Jade Philpott, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, all died in the fire at their home. Their brother Duwayne, 13, died two days later at Birmingham children's hospital. |
| The trial was adjourned for the day and will resume on Monday. | The trial was adjourned for the day and will resume on Monday. |
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