[Venomilys]

14-year-old Mikey Philpott said losing his half-siblings, Duwayne, 13, Jade, 10, John, nine, Jack, seven, Jessie, six and five-year-old Jaydon had been “tearing us to pieces”.

His father, Mick Philpott, is to due hold a press conference today to appeal for help in catching the person who started the fire.

He said: “It's tearing us to pieces that they have gone just like that. It's been really hard to take it all in. I've broke down a few times.

"I'd like justice for my brothers and sisters more than anything - it is strung out that someone can just do something like that."

He said: "I knew there was something wrong as soon as I saw there had been a fire on Victory Road in Derby.

"I rang my dad, and it went straight to voicemail, then I rang Mairead, my step-mum, and there was nothing. Then I ran my step-brother, Richard, and went straight off to hospital. Everyone was around us.

"The support we have had in so far, from everyone, is amazing. I was pretty close to my brothers and sisters. I didn't realise how close until I lost them.

"Duwayne was a great brother. I spent a lot of time fishing with him at weekends. Jade was a proper daddy's girl, always smiling. You could never get John to shut up, bless him. He was really playful.

Full story:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...r-justice.html

Very, very sad.

[Piko_Piko]

I read this a few days ago. It's not just sad, it was a deliberate act of arson. Probably due to his 'unconventional' family life. Read: his cheating ways with one of the five mothers of his many, many children.
He couldn't even pay for his childrens' funerals either.
Tragic all round.

[Ice Constricter]

How sick minded do you have to be to commit such a ferocious act?

Hope the killer is brought to justice, sick minded ****!

[suffocation1992]

Is there supposed to be an imputation in the thread title that the parents killed the children?

[rainbow.panda]

(Original post by perfectsymbology)
Why would someone murder kids for revenge?

I don't think any normal person could understand the mentality of the kind of psycho that does this :/

[Issy123]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/archives...-1226373124428


hope they weren't responsible for this...

[cl_steele]

im curious what evidence the police found that justified them arresting the parents?!

[Manitude]

(Original post by cl_steele)
im curious what evidence the police found that justified them arresting the parents?!

Indeed. I can perhaps justify that they may want to charge the parents for allowing this to happen. But that is very different to deliberately causing it to happen!

[PimpinisEasy]

Is this why the price of petrol has dropped? zing!

[TanishaBellum]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX64Oj8Ua-Y

[geetar]

(Original post by Manitude)
Indeed. I can perhaps justify that they may want to charge the parents for allowing this to happen. But that is very different to deliberately causing it to happen!

It says on the Beeb's website that they have been arrested "on suspicion of murder".

(Granted, I know that what a journalist writes down doesn't always bear much connection to the truth). And they haven't actually named them as the parents.

[Manitude]

(Original post by geetar)
It says on the Beeb's website that they have been arrested "on suspicion of murder".

(Granted, I know that what a journalist writes down doesn't always bear much connection to the truth). And they haven't actually named them as the parents.

Wow...I didn't realise how bad the journalism in the Beeb was. They are categorically saying it is the parents who have been arrested, while the police are not saying either way.

I think all the BBC are going on is their ages as the police haven't said anything but their ages. It seems very coincidental that they are the same ages, but it would be wrong to say explicitly who they are without additional information.

[katyness]

Well that's less benefits spent on them (just in case they also did this: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show...&highlight=50k)

but yes, very sad.

[Rennit]

Living very close to Derby we all know the true story.

Turns out the father and mother set the house alight so they'd get more benefits and a new house.
(They never did intend their children to die though)

[Alpharius]

I wouldn't read into the arrests so far.

Not until charges are pressed.

[MagicNMedicine]

Not sure if it's a deliberate tactic by the police but the warning bells on this rang when they put the parents in front of a press conference. They don't put distressed families in front of the cameras most of the time, but when they do, it often seems that they end up being suspects themselves...

[joey11223]

(Original post by MagicNMedicine)
Not sure if it's a deliberate tactic by the police but the warning bells on this rang when they put the parents in front of a press conference. They don't put distressed families in front of the cameras most of the time, but when they do, it often seems that they end up being suspects themselves...

I wouldn't say that was the case at all, it's not as if it isn't a choice, parents can do a public appeal if they wish to. This guy isn't exactly camera shy, what with being on the likes of Jeremy kyle.

BBC does seem to be running the parents have been arrested for murder, maybe they did it so they'd get a better house, since that's what the father wanted.

It seems suspicious to me that it happened at night yet when the fire fighters arrived the parents were outside with members of the public and then tried to "help" to get back inside to save the children. I'm sorry but if I woke up to my house on fire and I had kids, let alone 6, I sure as hell wouldn't be leaving the house without any of my children, I'd more likely die trying to save them. Seriously what kind of parent doesn't try and save their children, even a couple of them if they can't realistically save them all? Though most would likely try and save them all and die doing so if it came to it.

[Lula]

I live in Derby and this event has shocked us all....its tragic and frankly sick to even think that the parents might have done it!!
If they have then words cannot describe how horrific the situation is....
Much speculation does indeed point to the parents and their desire for a larger home...:/
Just imagine 6 young lives lost for the sake of a new home....
doesnt really compare does it...x

[122025278]

Isn't it illegal to talk about this on here?

[Harve]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-16287721
At first I was reminded of this strangely similar story from a village not far from Derby (near me). I swear now is the time for child deaths in house fires and ferry / cruise ship accidents.