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Derby fire deaths: Philpotts and friend to be sentenced Philpott sentencing: Derby fire deaths duo 'good' parents
(about 2 hours later)
The parents who killed six children in a house fire in Derby will be sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court later. A mother and father convicted of killing six of their children in a house fire were "good" parents, a court has heard.
Mick and Mairead Philpott, as well as their friend Paul Mosley, were convicted of manslaughter on Tuesday after an eight-week trial. Mick and Mairead Philpott are due to be sentenced for manslaughter later, along with their friend Paul Mosley.
Derbyshire Police said it was the most upsetting case the force had ever dealt with. Barristers representing the parents told the judge the children had been loved and "happy".
The couple's families released statements saying they thought "justice had been served". But the court has heard that Philpott had a criminal record and tried to murder a previous girlfriend.
'Violent and controlling' The jury at Nottingham Crown Court returned unanimous decisions on Mosley and Mick Philpott while Mairead Philpott was convicted by a majority on Tuesday.
The jury returned unanimous decisions on Mosley and Mick Philpott while Mairead Philpott was convicted by a majority. Anthony Orchard QC, representing Philpott, said: "Despite Mr Philpott's faults he was a very good father and loved those children. All the witnesses, even Lisa Willis [Philpott's former mistress], agree on this.
Five of the Philpotts' children died in their home in Victory Road and the sixth, from a previous relationship, died in hospital. "There's no evidence at any stage that he deliberately harmed any of them."
Mr Orchard said Philpott's conviction for attempting to murder a previous girlfriend by repeatedly stabbing her in 1978 was a "long time ago" and there was no evidence of anything like that being repeated.
But the judge, Mrs Justice Thirlwall, interrupted and said: "There's been violence in every single relationship, has there not?"
Shaun Smith QC, for Mairead Philpott, said there was no evidence "any of these children were in any sort of danger or peril prior to that night [of the fire] whatsoever".
"The entirety of the evidence is that Mairead Philpott was an extremely good mother to all 11 children [who had been living in the house]," he said.
'Child killer' sentence
Mr Smith added they were "happy children" who were "well nourished" and "well looked after".
He said when released from prison, Mairead Philpott would have no support network from family, and she would not be able to have children or be involved with any despite her great love for them.
"She will be forever known as a child killer, that will be her real sentence," Mr Smith said.
Five of the Philpotts' children died in their home on Victory Road and the sixth, from a previous relationship, died in hospital.
Jade Philpott, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, died on the morning of the fire on 11 May 2012.Jade Philpott, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, died on the morning of the fire on 11 May 2012.
Mairead Philpott's son from a previous relationship, 13-year-old Duwayne, died later in hospital.Mairead Philpott's son from a previous relationship, 13-year-old Duwayne, died later in hospital.
Jurors heard that Philpott had been violent and controlling towards his former live-in mistress, Lisa Willis. Jurors heard Philpott had been violent and controlling towards his former live-in mistress, Lisa Willis.
When she left, taking her children, he became "obsessed with getting Lisa and the kids back".When she left, taking her children, he became "obsessed with getting Lisa and the kids back".
The court heard Mick Philpott wanted to rescue the children from the fire, blame Miss Willis, and be hailed a hero - but the plan went wrong.The court heard Mick Philpott wanted to rescue the children from the fire, blame Miss Willis, and be hailed a hero - but the plan went wrong.
Professor David Cantor, an investigative psychologist at the University of Huddersfield, said: "He [Mick Philpott] lived in a world where he could get away with anything.
"He had these two women, he'd been on television, he was a bit of a sort of local celebrity almost, and he probably had a great confidence that he could get away with all sorts of things."
Mairead Philpott's sister, Jennifer Lobban, told the BBC's Panorama team she had been dominated by Mick Philpott.Mairead Philpott's sister, Jennifer Lobban, told the BBC's Panorama team she had been dominated by Mick Philpott.
She said: "She is a victim of Mick, but, at the end of the day, when it comes to your kids, she should have put them first."She said: "She is a victim of Mick, but, at the end of the day, when it comes to your kids, she should have put them first."
Jurors were told that Philpott was to "act the hero and victim" and perhaps obtain a bigger house.Jurors were told that Philpott was to "act the hero and victim" and perhaps obtain a bigger house.
Father of 17
Derby South MP Margaret Beckett once met him as his constituency member of Parliament when he was trying to get a bigger house because of the size of his family.
She said: "He was the sort of person who gives compassion and public support a bad name.
"I wished he lived in somebody else's constituency, if that doesn't sound a ridiculous thing to say. He wasn't somebody you wanted to be responsible for in any way."
During the trial the court heard details of how Philpott led an unconventional life at Victory Road.During the trial the court heard details of how Philpott led an unconventional life at Victory Road.
The fatal blaze engulfed the house as the children slept just hours before Philpott, who was father to a total of 17 children by five different women, and Miss Willis were due to appear at a pre-scheduled court hearing to discuss residency of their children.
He would share a bed with his wife and Miss Willis on alternate nights, and both women were said to have lived happily with one another and the situation for a decade.He would share a bed with his wife and Miss Willis on alternate nights, and both women were said to have lived happily with one another and the situation for a decade.
But Miss Willis, 29, became unhappy with the domestic set-up three months before the fire and left with her five children, four of whom were fathered by Philpott.But Miss Willis, 29, became unhappy with the domestic set-up three months before the fire and left with her five children, four of whom were fathered by Philpott.
The fatal blaze engulfed the house as the children slept just hours before Philpott, who was father to a total of 17 children by five different women, and Miss Willis were due to appear at a pre-scheduled court hearing to discuss residency of their children.