Poignant picture is shared by arson-hit family
FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF BLAZE WHICH TOOK FOUR YOUNG LIVES AT THEIR HOME IN WALKDEN
IT is an image recognisable to many families in the run-up to Christmas.
A room strewn with wrapped-up presents, a young boy gazing at the television in the background.
This was how the Pearson children spent their Christmas. Loved so much.
This year will be their family’s second Christmas without them.
Demi, 15, her brother Brandon, eight, and younger sisters Lacie, seven, and Lia, three, tragically lost their lives in a devastating arson attack on their home in Walkden, Salford, in December 2017.
On Saturday night, their cousin Courtney Pearson shared a heartbreaking post on Facebook.
She asked people to ‘love a little extra,’ saying, ‘you never know when it’s your last Christmas.’
Courtney wrote: “Spoil your kids with presents and love a little extra this year. We only wish we could with Demi, Brandon, Lacie and Lia. Here’s a photo from Michelle’s home a few Christmas’s ago.
“It was like this every year. Instead, this year all she wants is to see and hold her children. We will spend Christmas a little different this year and for years to come.
“You will never know when it’s your last Christmas. So love a little harder this year and make it the best Christmas ever in memory of the kids. A little early but wishing you all a very merry Christmas from my family to yours xxx.”
Earlier this week, crowds gathered outside the family’s Jackson Street home to remember the youngsters on the one-year anniversary of the devastating fire.
Their mother Michelle Pearson, who was put in an induced coma following the blaze, recorded a video from her hospital bed, thanking the firefighters who battled to save her children.
She also paid thanks to members of the community for the incredible support the family has received over the past 12 months.
Ms Pearson said: “First of all, I’d like to thank all the firefighters for what they have done.
“Second, I would like to thank the community for all their generous donations. And last I would like to thank everybody for coming tonight.”
In May, Zak Bolland was found guilty of murdering the four children and of the attempted murders of others inside the house.
David Worrall was found guilty of the murders of the children and of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent against the three survivors. He was cleared of attempting to murder them.
Courtney Brierley, Bolland’s then partner, was found not guilty of the murders, but found guilty of the alternative of manslaughter in each case. She was cleared of three counts of attempted murder.