Suspect, 23, accused of killing children in house blaze

This is the first picture of the 23-year-old man today charged with murdering three children and leaving a three-year-old critically injured in an arson attack on their home.

Zac Bolland, 23, was today charged with three counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder as well as arson with intent to endanger life.

His girlfriend Courtney Brierley, 20, has been charged with the same offences and both will appear in court this morning. 

Bolland arrested in the street after police dragged him from his car as a crowd screamed abuse and called him a ‘dead man walking’. 

He was one of five people arrested in the aftermath of the blaze, allegedly caused by three petrol bombs thrown into the house including one down the chimney.

First picture: This is Zac Bolland who has been charged with murder over the alleged arson attack that killed three children and critically injured another

Bolland, 23, was today charged with three counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder as well as arson with intent to endanger life. His girlfriend Courtney Brierley, 20, has been charged with the same offence

Bolland, 23, was today charged with three counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder as well as arson with intent to endanger life. His girlfriend Courtney Brierley, 20, has been charged with the same offence

Bolland, 23, was today charged with three counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder as well as arson with intent to endanger life. His girlfriend Courtney Brierley, 20, has been charged with the same offence

Three children died in the devastating house fire in Jackson Street, Walkden - and another three-year-old is fighting for her life

Three children died in the devastating house fire in Jackson Street, Walkden – and another three-year-old is fighting for her life

This is the moment a suspect in the Salford arson attack (pictured in a white top) was arrested on suspicion of murder in front of a crowd baying for his blood

The arsonist is believed to have thrown three petrol bombs into the house – including one down the chimney – killing Michelle Pearson’s daughter Demi, 14, son Brandon, eight, and daughter Lacie, seven.

Their mother, 35, is heavily sedated in hospital and unaware of the tragedy while her youngest daughter Lia, three, remains in a critical condition today.

Her son Kyle Pearson, 16, escaped through a window and was left with minor injuries sustained as he tried to get back into the house to save his family in Walkden, Greater Manchester at 5am yesterday.

Neighbours of Zac Bolland claimed today the house he shares with his mother had its windows smashed around two weeks ago.

Police cordoned off his house yesterday and removed evidence including empty bottles and a length of pipe. 

There are also claims of a gangland feud being investigated by police including arson attacks on bins and a hammer attack on a dog.

A woman round the corner from the Pearson’s home said: ‘I was physically sick when I heard those kids had died. I hope whoever’s done this rots in hell’.

Describing Zac Bolland’s arrest at around 7pm last night Kyle Skelhorn, 31, said: ‘My girlfriend was coming home from work last night at about 6pm and she was adamant she’d seem him driving down the road.

‘She said: ‘I’m sure he’s just driven past in a car’. We saw him being pulled from the car by police and being patted down. He flipped his hood up over his head when he saw I was videoing him. The police led him away to a van.

‘We’ve had dealings with Zak Bolland in the past – he’s not a pleasant person. He’s a slimeball’.

A forensics officer inspects the chimney where a fire bomb is believed to have been dropped into the house below

A forensics officer inspects the chimney where a fire bomb is believed to have been dropped into the house below

Brandon, eight, and Lacie, seven, pictured with Peppa Pig, also died following the tragedy in the early hours of Monday

Brandon, eight, and Lacie, seven, pictured with Peppa Pig, also died following the tragedy in the early hours of Monday

Brandon Pearson, eight, and Lacie Pearson, seven, died in the Manchester fire but their youngest sister Lia, three, pictured in their arms, is in a critical condition in hospital

Brandon Pearson, eight, and Lacie Pearson, seven, died in the Manchester fire but their youngest sister Lia, three, pictured in their arms, is in a critical condition in hospital

Demi Pearson, 14, was the eldest child to be killed in the deliberate fire in Manchester yesterday as it emerged police had already been to their house hours earlier

Mother Michelle, 35, survived but is fighting for her life

Demi Pearson, 14, was the eldest child to be killed in the deliberate fire in Manchester yesterday as it emerged police had already been to their house hours earlier. Her mother Michelle, 35, survived but is fighting for her life

Timeline: How the fire horror unfolded

2am

Police called to the house after an incident and leave again.

4.58am

Fire service called to Jackson Street in Walkden, Salford, after reports of a large fire in terraced house.

7.26am

Street closed off as it emerges six people – five from the same family – are taken to hospital. 

12.11pm

Neighbours describe hearing ‘screaming and banging’ during the night and a ‘quite loud’ argument

1.41pm

Police confirmed three children died in the fire and a three-year-old girl remained in hospital in a critical condition with her 35-year-old mother 

2.46pm

First victim of the fire was named as 14-year-old Demi Pearson.

6.58pm

Police arrest man, 23, and a woman, 20, on suspicion of murder. 

7.58pm

Demi’s younger brother Brandon, eight, and his sister Lacie, seven, named as victims.

8.51pm

Police make three further arrests. Two men, 18 and 20, held on suspicion of murder. Man, 24, held on suspicion of assisting an offender

Source: MEN

It has also emerged that Michelle Pearson has suffered a number of tragedies in recent years and was forced to bring up her five children alone after her long term partner Paul died of cancer a year ago.

Family friend  Kyle Skelhorn, 31, said: ‘It’s devastating. The mum tries her hardest to make ends meet. It’s a crying shame a poor family can experience this’. 

He added: The youngest’s dad died last year, if her mum doesn’t make it she [Lia] has no-one left.’ 

The father of the remaining four children is understood to be in prison.  

Floral tributes, toys and candles have began expanding on the pavement outside. 

Investigators, wearing white plastic suits, took pictures of the roof and chimney of the burned-out property.

The heavy-duty blockade is lined with police vehicles and officers making enquiries as they patrol the scene.

The large steal blanket blocks off public access to the street as people from the surrounding community pay tributes.

A smiley emoji soft-toy placed underneath the Jackson Street road sign has the words ‘RIP Demi, Brandon and Lacie’ penned across it.

A fundraising site has also been launched to support the family with £1,000 raised from a £2,000 target. 

Two teenage boys – Ms Pearson’s son Kyle and a friend named locally as Bobby – managed to flee the house as it went up in flames from an upstairs window.

Kyle said last night: ‘I can’t get my head around it. It’s disgraceful. It’s hard to talk about it. I’m in shock’.

The fire may have been started after fuel was poured into the house from the roof and set alight after clambering up some scaffolding.

Pictures from the scene today show the fire-damaged window frames of the house. There are claims the fire may have been started via the chimney after climbing up the scaffolding (pictured left) and forensics teams are using a high ladder to inspect its roof

Pictures from the scene today show the fire-damaged window frames of the house. There are claims the fire may have been started via the chimney after climbing up the scaffolding (pictured left) and forensics teams are using a high ladder to inspect its roof

A plastic bottle and a length or pipe was taken away from a property around a mile from the fire where the suspect is believed to live with his mother

A plastic bottle and a length or pipe was taken away from a property around a mile from the fire where the suspect is believed to live with his mother

The scorched and fire damaged windows of the property where three 'petrol-fuelled' fires are believed to have been started while the family slept inside

The scorched and fire damaged windows of the property where three ‘petrol-fuelled’ fires are believed to have been started while the family slept inside

Neighbours of Bolland’s described their shock today. 

One father-of-two on the street said: ‘They’re an alright family. There were four boys that were all brothers and their mum, from what I could tell.

‘I work nights and didn’t see or hear anything until I came home from work yesterday morning and the police were sat outside.

‘The lads were alright to talk to when they walked past. There was Zac who I’d say was around 23, an older one I think then there were two others who were teenagers or about 20.

‘I’d see them on the street and say hello but that’s it. I never saw them involved in any trouble on this street. 

Another neighbour, who didn’t wish to be named said: ‘I’m friends with their mum and only saw her on Sunday afternoon. 

‘She never mentioned any trouble. She moaned about typical stuff that young lads get up to but never anything like that. Their mum is a good woman.’

 

 

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