Philpotts charged with murder of their six children

A mother and father have been charged with murdering their six children, who died after a fire at their home.

Mick Philpott and his wife Mairead will appear at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court tomorrow morning, a spokesman for Derbyshire Police said.

Jade Philpott, 10, and brothers John, nine, Jack, seven, Jessie, six, and Jayden, five, all died in the blaze, in Victory Road, Allenton, on May 11.

A sixth sibling, Duwayne, 13, died of his injuries in Birmingham Children’s Hospital two days’ later.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: ``The evidence was reviewed by a Crown Advocate from the CPS East Midlands Complex Casework Unit, who decided that there was sufficient evidence to charge and that it is in the public interest for a prosecution to take place.

“It is important to note that the defendants are entitled to a fair trial and nothing should be said or reported that would prejudice that right.”