TRAGIC BLAZE PARENTS HELD
Couple arrested in hospital following fire that killed four of their children
A MOTHER and father were arrested yesterday after a house fire in which four of their five children died.
Natalie Unitt, 24, and her 28year-old partner Chris Moulton were held on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.
The couple were arrested as they recovered in hospital following the blaze at their home in Stafford on Tuesday. Their children, Keegan, six, Tilly Rose, four, and three yearold Olly died after the fire in the early hours. Riley, Miss Unitt’s eight-year-old son from a previous relationship, was also killed.
The couple escaped from a firstleft devastated by the children’s deaths and more than £28,000 has been raised for the family.
Hundreds attended a candle-lit vigil at the scene on Thursday evening. They lay teddies and flowers and prayers were said. The youngsters’ teachers have described them as ‘bright, happy, lovely and lively’ children.
Miss Holt described herself on Facebook as a ‘proud mummy’. Friends said her children were ‘her world’ and said she had been left broken by their deaths.
Gross negligence manslaughter is defined in law as a death that occurs as a result of a negligent act or omission. Staffordshire police urged the public not to speculate on the causes of the blaze.
The force said in a statement yesterday: ‘Following an update from investigators into the probable cause of the fire, we have arrested a 24-year-old woman and a 28-yearold man on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence.
‘The arrests were made at around 1.30pm. The man and woman are in custody.
‘This incident has had a huge impact on the community and we understand there will be confusion and a demand for information.
‘However, we would urge people not to speculate as to what may have happened and appeal for patience as the investigation continues. We will provide further updates as soon as we are able to.’
Bystanders heard how Miss Unitt desperately screamed for her children after jumping from a bedroom window to escape the fire.
A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: ‘As the fire raged, I saw Natalie and Chris wrapped in blankets outside. She was screaming: “My babies! My babies!”.’
Another neighbour said she heard Miss Unitt shouting for her ‘babies’, adding: ‘I heard a massive bang. I went to look outside and saw a massive fire come out of the upstairs window of the house.
‘The man had a baby in his arms and the mum was wrapped in a duvet standing in the street.’
The woman said the victims had been ‘really happy little things’ and ‘so friendly’. A relative of Miss Unitt said the tragedy would ‘break’ the devoted mother. Sarah Pearce, 26, said: ‘Natalie was born to be a mother. It’s all she wanted to do.’