The six Philpott children who died in the fire at their home in Derby (Facebook)
The six Philpott children who died in the fire at their home in Derby (Facebook)

The parents of the six children who died at a house fire in Derby have been told the murder charges they faced have been downgraded to manslaughter.

Mick and Mairead Philpott, 55 and 31, respectively pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charges at Birmingham Crown Court via videolink.

Jade Philpott, 10, and her brothers John, nine, Jack, eight, Jesse, six, five-year-old Jayden all died in the fire at their home in Allenton, Derby, on 11 May.

The eldest, Duwayne, 13, died three days later in hospital.

The third defendant, Paul Mosley, 45, denied the charge of manslaughter at the same hearing. Mosley had also originally been charged with murder along with the Philpotts.

The funerals for the six children took place on 22 June at St Mary's Catholic Church.

The cost of the funeral, believed to be around £14,000, was raised with donations to the DJ Trust, set up by the Derby community following the tragedy. The parents did not attend the funeral as they were in custody.

Facebook