GUILTY: Three men who murdered two teenagers and a baby in Derbyshire fire
Amy Smith, 17, her six-and-a-half-month-old daughter Ruby-Grace Gaunt and friend Edward Green, 17, from Belper, all died when a fire broke out at Amy’s flat on North Street, Langley Mill last June.
Amy’s partner, Shaun Gaunt and his friend, Joshua Holt, were rescued from the flat.
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Hide AdPeter Eyre, 44, of Sandiacre, and his sons Simon, 24, of Long Eaton, and Anthony, 22, of Sandiacre, have now been found guilty of murder after a four-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court.
They will be sentenced tomorrow.
The court heard that the fire was started at the door of the building after the Eyres got into an argument with Mr Gaunt about his stolen moped, which he alleged had been taken by another one of Peter Eyre’s sons.
Petrol was poured outside the front door, on the door and onto Edward’s car, which was parked on the drive outside.
Once police and firefighters had established the blaze was deliberate, officers began checking local CCTV cameras and found footage of the Eyres driving to Langley Mill prior to the fatal fire.
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Hide AdThe prosecution case was that Peter Eyre remained in the car while his sons set the fire.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Kate Meynell, said: “This investigation has always been about getting justice for Amy, Ruby-Grace, Edward and their families.
“What started as a dispute over a stolen moped very quickly escalated to the tragic events of that night in June. It was a foolish revenge attack gone terribly wrong.
“Amy’s partner, Shaun, had accused one of Peter Eyre’s sons of stealing his moped so Eyre and his older sons, Anthony and Simon, sought revenge against him.
“Nothing can bring Amy, Ed, and Ruby-Grace back but I hope these guilty verdicts will bring some sort of closure for their loved ones.”