This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/tyne/7247377.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Teenager killed sisters in blaze Teenager killed sisters in blaze
(10 minutes later)
A teenager has been found guilty of killing his two sisters in an arson attack in South Tyneside.A teenager has been found guilty of killing his two sisters in an arson attack in South Tyneside.
Shane Spence had denied starting a fire at the family home in South Shields last April, which killed Tatum Leah, 14, and Demi-Jade, 12.Shane Spence had denied starting a fire at the family home in South Shields last April, which killed Tatum Leah, 14, and Demi-Jade, 12.
The 18-year-old was found guilty of two counts of manslaughter and one count of arson at Newcastle Crown Court.The 18-year-old was found guilty of two counts of manslaughter and one count of arson at Newcastle Crown Court.
He was cleared of the attempted murder of his parents, John and Anita, both 37, who escaped the fire.He was cleared of the attempted murder of his parents, John and Anita, both 37, who escaped the fire.
During the three-week trial, the court heard how a charred petrol can was found by investigators in the lounge of the family's ex-council house in Lisle Road. During the three-week trial, the prosecution alleged that Spence, who did not live at the house, crept into the ex-council property on Lisle Road early on 4 April after telling a friend he was popping back to pick up a CD.
It also heard how Mr Spence had arguments with Tatum when she called him "thick", but that he loved her. He then doused the living room sofa in petrol and set it alight before returning to the friend's house to watch a film, the court heard.
'Extremely tragic' 'Already dead'
Speaking after the conviction, Dave Simpson, assistant chief fire officer for Tyne and Wear, said: "We can't repeat enough how vital it is to have working smoke alarms fitted in the home. The jury was told how Mrs Spence shouted and screamed to wake her husband and daughters, and believed her elder daughter was beside her on the landing, while Demi-Jade was asleep in the loft.
"There is no doubt that they do save lives and if you don't own one or if it's not working, you are twice as likely to die in a fire. She opened a window in an empty bedroom and called for help, but the room filled with thick smoke and she jumped out in order to raise the alarm.
"The circumstances surrounding this case are extremely tragic and we would like to express our deepest sympathies to the parents." Alistair MacDonald QC, prosecuting, said: "The parents Anita and John managed to escape from the house, albeit that John Spence suffered terrible burns as a result of his attempts to rescue his daughters from the fire.
Spence had attempted suicide a few days before the fire
"However, tragically, both the efforts of John Spence and the fire brigade when they arrived were in vain.
"The girls were already dead when firemen wearing breathing apparatus reached them."
They died in their bedrooms of smoke inhalation and burns, a post-mortem examination found.
The jury heard how Spence had attempted suicide a few days earlier after an argument in which he pushed his girlfriend, the mother of his child.
He had also recently given up his job, which Mr MacDonald said was much to his father's "disgust".
A charred petrol can was found by investigators in the lounge of the family's home.
The jury reached a majority verdict after more than 10 hours of deliberation.The jury reached a majority verdict after more than 10 hours of deliberation.
Sentencing has been delayed for pre-sentence and psychiatric reports.Sentencing has been delayed for pre-sentence and psychiatric reports.