Accused ‘thought fatal fire was meant to frighten, not kill’

Feb 8 2008 by Sam Wonfor, The Journal

A TEENAGER accused of starting a blaze which claimed the lives of his two sisters told a friend he thought the fire was intended to frighten but not kill, the jury heard.

Leigh Wright told Newcastle Crown Court that she and Shane Spence had often talked both before and after the April 2007 tragedy.

She admitted reporting conversations they had had directly back to police, but denied a defence claim she had believed in her heart Shane Spence was responsible for the fire and had tried to “trip him up” in the accounts he had given.

“Shane told me things,” she said. “I didn’t sit and ask him questions. Shane needed someone to talk to and that is what he has done, he’s talked to me.

“I didn’t know if Shane had started that fire. I’ve never tried to get Shane convicted.” Earlier in her evidence, Ms Wright was asked if Spence had said anything to her about what he thought the intentions were of the person who started the fire.

She said the teenager had told her “that he didn’t think it was meant to go that far, it wasn’t meant to kill anyone.”

Spence, 18, denies murdering his sisters Tatum, 14 and Demi-Jade, 12, and the attempted murders of his parents John and Anita, both aged 37.

Prosecutors allege the teenager used petrol to set alight a sofa in the living room of the family home in Lisle Road, South Shields, starting a fierce fire which quickly spread.

Witness Estee Hardingham told the jury she had been at Ms Wright’s home on the night of the fire when Ms Wright received a phone call about the blaze.

She said Ms Wright ran out of the house, she followed and moments later saw Shane Spence in the street on the other side of the road.

Ms Hardingham said she ran across to Spence whom she agreed had been extremely upset and he had immediately asked what had happened, where his parents were and where the girls were.

The trial continues today.