Derby death blaze: Court hears of children's last movements

Five of the children died at the Victory Road house and the eldest died in hospital

A court has heard details about the last movements of six children killed in a Derby house fire from a police interview with their mother.

Mairead Philpott, 31, her husband Mick, 56, and friend Paul Mosley, 46, are all on trial at Nottingham Crown Court, accused of manslaughter.

Sgt Joanne James told the court that Mrs Philpott said she heard one of the children talking in the early hours at their home in Allenton, Derby.

All three defendants deny manslaughter.

During an interview with police, Mrs Philpott said that on the night of the fire the youngest children, John, Jack, Jesse and Jayden, went to bed at about 19:30, but did not go to sleep until 21:30.

Mrs Philpott said she watched TV soap operas with Jade and Duwayne and they went to bed about an hour later.

She said she had later gone to the bathroom at about 01:00 and heard Jade talking in her sleep to her brother.

Fire investigator Mat Lee told the trial the blaze was started in the hallway of the house in Victory Road.

Jade Philpott, 10, John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, and Jayden, five, died in the blaze.

Their brother Duwayne, 13, died later in hospital.

The trial continues.