Burglar lit fire that killed dad and girl, 8
A BURGLAR who killed a girl of eight and her father by setting fire to their house to destroy evidence of a break-in across the road has been found guilty of manslaughter.
Daniel Jones, 29, feared that CCTV footage from the home in Stanley, West Yorkshire, would reveal the raid he carried three days earlier, Leeds Crown Court was told.
Andrew Broadhead, his wife Sara, 36, and their daughters Mia, 15, and Kiera were asleep in the early hours of October 19 last year when Jones poured petrol through their front door letterbox.
Mrs Broadhead and elder daughter Mia managed to escape but Mr Broadhead, 42, and Kiera were overcome by smoke and were later pronounced dead at the scene.
Jones showed no emotion on Wednesday as a jury found him not guilty of two counts of murder but guilty of two counts of manslaughter. He was also found guilty of burglary.
Debt-ridden Jones stole a safe from a friend’s house in the same road in the early hours of October 16, the court was told.
The friend quickly became suspicious that Jones was the culprit and invited him to his address on the evening of October 18.
Jones was challenged about the theft and denied it but was then told that CCTV in the neighbourhood, including the Broadheads family home could have caught him in the act.
Jones’s friend told him the Broadheads were on holiday and due back in a few days. However, that information was incorrect and the family returned home earlier on October 18, jurors heard.
Jonathan Sharp, prosecuting, told the court last week: “The fire quickly took hold and began burning its way through the whole of the house.
“Neighbours tried to help the family and they rescued Sara and Mia Broadhead.
“Some of them tried to help Andrew and Kiera who were still inside the house but the smoke and heat from the fire made that impossible.”
Jones, of Knottingley, will sentenced on November 9.
Judge Mr Justice Morris ordered a pre-sentence report to be prepared and remanded Jones in custody. be