Three individuals involved in an arson attack that resulted in the deaths of an elderly couple in St Helens have been sentenced to imprisonment after being convicted of manslaughter.
In a tragic case from St Helens, three individuals, Kevin Weetman, Kylie Maynard, and Lee Owens, have been sentenced for their involvement in an arson attack that led to the deaths of 77-year-old Eric Greener and 83-year-old Sheila Jackson. The attack occurred on July 15 last year, as the couple succumbed to severe burns and smoke inhalation after their home was deliberately set on fire. The motive was linked to a dispute over drugs, with Sheila's son, George Jackson, identified as the intended target of the attack.
During the trial, Owens claimed he acted as a lookout, believing the house to be unoccupied at the time of the arson, which carried significant implications for his guilty plea to manslaughter. Despite the jury acquitting Weetman and Maynard of murder charges, they were held accountable for their roles in the manslaughter of the elderly couple, highlighting the tragic consequences of violence fueled by drug-related conflicts.
The case has drawn public attention not only due to the horrific nature of the crime but also due to the courtroom dynamics, where emotions boiled over as spectators voiced their outrage, leading to heckling of the accused. This incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by drugs and the ripple effects that violent crime can have on communities, especially among vulnerable populations like the elderly.
