Inquest of Mum and four children murdered in arson attack is delayed

Michelle Pearson with her children Demi Pearson, 15, Brandon, eight, and sisters Lacie, seven, and Lia, three. Credit: MEN

A coroner has told the family of a mother and her four children who died in an arson attack that with “profound regret” he needs to delay an inquest into their deaths.

The house blaze in Walkden, Greater Manchester, claimed the lives of Demi Pearson, 15, her brother Brandon, eight, and sisters Lacie, seven, and Lia, three, in December 2017.

Their mother, Michelle Pearson, 37, suffered extensive burns injuries and “clung on to life” until she died 20 months later.

She had “begged” to be rehoused and called police on five occasions in the two weeks before the fatal attack, the trial of her killers heard.

Michelle's four youngest children Lia, Lacie, Brandon and Demi Pearson all died in the blaze in 2017

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigated the family’s contact with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) involving incidents and threats from their killers, and a report was completed in 2019, but not made public.

However GMP has since notified the police watchdog of “some concerns” over the IOPC probe and asked it to review it.

At a pre-inquest review hearing on Wednesday, Nicholas Flanagan, representing the IOPC, told Bolton Coroner’s Court that review is “nearing its conclusion” with a decision expected in the next fortnight as to whether a fresh investigation is required.

Michelle Pearson was left with 70% burns across her body, and died in hospital 20 months after the fire.

Other legal matters involving “complexities of disclosure and further evidence” also need to be considered, the court heard.

HM Senior Coroner for Manchester West Timothy Brennand said: “I convey my profound regret to the family that in an already delayed investigation we are left in an unhappy position of grappling with the inevitable conclusion that the long-listed hearing date of June 2 cannot be met.”

He said it is “far better” to hear the evidence all at one time rather than in a series of rolling part-heard sessions.

Anna Morris KC, representing the family, said: “It is of course their wish that the inquest takes place as soon as possible given their long-standing desire for the matters to be thoroughly investigated, but they are clear they want things done thoroughly.”

A further pre-inquest review, scheduled to last a full day, will take place on June 16.

Zak Bolland and David Worrall were found guilty of murdering Michelle in 2021. They had already been jailed for killing her children. Credit: GMP

Zak Bolland and David Worrall were jailed for life for the murders and told they would serve a minimum of 40 and 37 years respectively for the petrol bomb attack on the Pearson family home in Jackson Street in the early hours of December 11 2017.

Bolland’s girlfriend, Courtney Brierley, was jailed for 21 years for four counts of manslaughter after the trial at Manchester Crown Crown Court.