Mother of victims of petrol bomb attack unable to attend funerals
THE MOTHER of four children murdered in a petrol bomb attack at her home will not be able to attend their funerals as she continues to battle her injuries.
Michelle Pearson, 36, was expected to join hundreds of mourners at the service for her children, who died in the attack in Jackson Street, Walkden, Greater Manchester, last December.
But her mother Sandra Lever said that due to “unforeseen medical circumstances” her daughter would not be able to attend.
Mrs Pearson suffered severe burns in the attack that killed daughters Demi Pearson, 15, Lacie, seven, and Lia, three, and eight-year-old son Brandon.
The mother-of-six has been in hospital since the fire.
Her family said she had wanted to attend the funeral despite still being very poorly after suffering a series of infections.
But Mrs Lever said in a Facebook post: “Due to unforeseen medical circumstances Michelle want be able to attend the children’s funeral on Friday.” After dozens of sympathetic responses, Mrs Lever added: “Thanks everyone, it is sad but what is best for Michelle.”
The funeral for all four children will be held today at St Paul’s Church in Walkden.
They were murdered as they slept after Zak Bolland, 23, and David Worrall, 26, smashed a kitchen window and threw petrol bombs inside. Bolland’s bottle exploded near the stairs, blocking the only exit to the ground floor and trapping the victims upstairs at 5am on December 11.
She was rescued with her youngest daughter Lia, who died in hospital two days later.
All four died from smoke inhalation and burns, the trial of the killers heard.
Mrs Pearson’s son Kyle, 17, had been involved in a “petty” feud with Bolland over damage to his £200 car, prompting a series of tit-for-tat attacks.
Bolland and Worrall were given four life sentences for murder after a trial in May and must serve a minimum of 40 and 37 years respectively before parole.
Bolland’s girlfriend Courtney Brierley, 20, was jailed for 21 years for four counts of manslaughter.
Mrs Pearson had made a series of complaints to police and her housing provider Salford Council, asking to be moved.
An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct is ongoing.