Woman charged with blaze murders

A woman has been charged with four counts of murder after a house fire killed four members of the same family.

Steve Allen's four-year-old son Bailey and daughter Skye, two, died in the blaze on Friday, October 19 which also killed Mr Allen's sister Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, and her 15-month-old son Charlie.

Melanie Jane Smith, 42, has been charged with four counts of murder, one count of arson with intent to endanger life and threats to commit criminal damage, following the fire at Maes y Groes in Prestatyn, North Wales.

She will appear at Prestatyn Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning, said police.

Karen Dixon, District Crown Prosecutor in Wales, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has been working with North Wales Police as their investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragic fire has developed.

"Our role at this stage is to review the evidence gathered so far by North Wales Police and issue advice in respect of criminal charges.

"I can confirm that, having carried out a detailed evidential review, our conclusion is that there is sufficient evidence to charge Melanie Jane Smith with four counts of murder, one count of arson with intent to endanger life and one count of threats to cause criminal damage.

"We have also concluded that it is in the public interest to charge the defendant with these offences."

Firefighters had managed to rescue Charlie and his father Liam Timbrell, 23, from their first floor flat following the blaze, but the youngster died on the following Sunday afternoon while Mr Timbrell remains in a serious condition in hospital.