[bbfan1991]

A couple started a house fire which killed their six children in "a plan that went horribly wrong", a court has been told.

Michael and Mairead Philpott, along with third defendant Paul Mosley, deny six counts of manslaughter.

The prosecution allege they started the fire to frame Mr Philpott's mistress amid a custody battle.

She and her five children had moved out of the Derby council house three months before the fire on 11 May.

On the morning of the fire, Mr Philpott and his former mistress, Lisa Willis, had been due in court to discuss residency of the children.

'Acting together'

Richard Latham QC, outlining the prosecution case at Nottingham Crown Court, said: "We say that this was a plan that went horribly wrong and resulted in total tragedy.

"What is alleged is that these children died as a result of the unlawful acts of these defendants who, we say, were acting together in a joint enterprise, setting a house fire."

Earlier, the jury was told about the family's unconventional lifestyle - Mr Philpott, 56, his 31-year-old wife and his mistress Lisa Willis, 28, all lived in the same house.

A total of 11 children also lived there - six were those of Mick and Mairead Philpott, while four were his children with Ms Willis. Another child was Ms Willis's with another man.

Ms Willis had been just 17 or 18 when she met Mr Philpott. The prosecution said from the outset he "sought to exert total control" over her, ensuring her wages from a cleaning job and her benefits were paid into his bank account.

Mrs Philpott slept in either the living room or the conservatory while Mr Philpott slept in a caravan outside with Ms Willis, jurors heard.

The prosecution said Mr Philpott preferred his relationship with Ms Willis but she had become unhappy. On 11 February she moved out after telling Mr Philpott she was taking her children swimming.

She returned three days later to collect some clothes and was challenged by Mr Philpott, jurors heard.

Mr Latham said: "There was an incident on the doorstep, Philpott manifesting huge aggression and the police were called.

"What she had done challenged the very core of his attitude to his family and his women.

'Plan up sleeve'

"She had stood up to him, he was no longer in control and that was absolutely unacceptable to him."

On 1 May Mr Philpott reported to the police that Ms Willis had made threats to kill him, the court heard.

"The police visited him, he was at times highly emotional and made it clear that he wanted Lisa arrested," Mr Latham said.

"If she had been this would have assisted him in the court proceedings, wouldn't it?"

Two weeks before the fire, Mr Philpott told friends he had an idea for a way of getting Lisa and the children back, the jury heard.

Mr Latham said: "He told people he had a plan up his sleeve and that she wasn't going to get away with it - watch this space."

The court also heard that Mr Philpott received a call from his wife while taking friends to a darts game in his minibus.

Philpott told his friends, "Sorry guys someone is threatening to torch the house with the kids in it", Mr Latham told the court.

The fire was started using petrol in the hallway of the house as the children slept, the court heard.

Jade Philpott, 10, and her brothers John, nine, Jack, eight; Jessie, six, and Jayden, five, died at their home. Their brother Duwayne, 13, died in hospital.

Mr Philpott, 56, and Mrs Philpott, 31, both formerly of Victory Road, and Mr Mosley, 46, of Cecil Street, Derby, are all charged with six counts of manslaughter; one for each of the children.

Horrific story. RIP to them kids.

[Kizzy]

What an unusual story, those poor kids.

[LemonJam]

Absolute ****ing imbeciles. Seriously, how can they be that stupid and still function?

RIP to Jada, John, Jack, Jessie, Jayden and Duwayne absolutely awful.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

What an unusual story, those poor kids.

Yes and he lived in there with 2 Women

[Nedusa]

I don't think there's a Jury in the land that would think this story was mitigation in any way for the senseless killing of six children. The prosecution will rip this story to shreds and make guilty verdicts even more likely.

*******ing stupid people almost beyond belief...!!!!