Two thugs who killed four children in petrol bomb attack stand trial for murder of their mother

Two thugs have gone on trial in Salford for the murder of a woman who died 20 months after a petrol bomb attack that claimed the lives of her children.

Manchester Crown Court heard how Zak Bolland, 26, and David Worrall, 28, launched the arson attack on December 11, 2017, while feuding with the 16-year-old son of Michelle Pearson.

A petrol bomb was thrown into Mrs Pearson’s home in Walkden, Greater Manchester, during the early hours of the morning, trapping the family upstairs. 

The court was told how the two men arrived at the house and delivered threats to the family before leaving, with Mrs Pearson having called the police and given a statement.

Zak Bolland, 26

Zak Bolland, 26, (right) and David Worrall, 28, (left) have gone on trial in Salford for the murder of a woman who died 20 months after a petrol bomb attack that claimed the lives of her children

The pair then returned with the ‘homemade petrol bombs’ and allegedly threw them into the house. 

Demi Pearson, 15, her brother Brandon, aged eight, and sister Lacie, aged seven, all perished in the blaze.

Michelle Pearson was rescued along with her youngest daughter, Lia, aged three, who died in hospital two days later.

Her eldest son, Kyle Pearson, 16, managed to escape the blaze through a window.

Mrs Pearson suffered 68% burns to her body and ‘clung on to life’ the court heard, until she died, aged 37, on August 25 last year, 20 months after the attack as a result of ‘complications’ from her burn wounds.

Michelle Pearson

Demi Pearson

Demi Pearson, 15, (right) her brother Brandon, aged eight, and sister Lacie, aged seven, all perished in the blaze. Michelle Pearson (left) was rescued along with her youngest daughter, Lia, aged three, who died in hospital two days later

Kyle Pearson, 16, managed to escape the blaze through a window. pictured: Brandon (left) and Lacie Pearson (middle) who died in the blaze, with their sister Lia who later died in hospital

Kyle Pearson, 16, managed to escape the blaze through a window. pictured: Brandon (left) and Lacie Pearson (middle) who died in the blaze, with their sister Lia who later died in hospital

Both Bolland and Worrall were convicted of the children’s murders after a trial in May 2018, the jury was told.

They both deny the murder of Mrs Pearson.

Paul Reid QC, opening the case for the prosecution, told the jury of seven men and five women: ‘Just as they denied their guilt in 2018, these defendants now deny their guilt of the murder of Michelle Pearson.

‘The prosecution say that if Michelle Pearson had died before that trial took place, the jury would undoubtedly have convicted Bolland and Worrall of the murder of Michelle Pearson.

‘We invite you to come to the same conclusion.

‘Michelle Pearson died as a result of the injuries she sustained when Zak Bolland and David Worrall threw petrol bombs into the house where she was asleep with five of her children, who were aged between three and 16 years old.’

Pictured: Police and fire service personnel investigate the scene of the attack in December 2017

Pictured: Police and fire service personnel investigate the scene of the attack in December 2017

Zak Bolland, 26, and David Worrall, 28, are alleged to have thrown petrol bombs through a window of the house, causing the blaze

Zak Bolland, 26, and David Worrall, 28, are alleged to have thrown petrol bombs through a window of the house, causing the blaze

The jury heard the fire was the culmination of a number of attacks on the Pearson family home before the fatal blaze on December 11 2017.

At 5am, Bolland and Worrall removed a fence panel at the back of the house, smashed a kitchen window and threw two petrol bombs inside, the prosecutor said.

In the weeks before, Bolland’s car was damaged, and he blamed Kyle Pearson, demanding £500 and sending threatening text messages to Mrs Pearson’s phone number.

Around four hours before the alleged arson attack, Bolland was at her doorstep threatening Mrs Pearson that he was ‘going to do your house’, the jury heard.

Police were called and Mrs Pearson made a statement.

But hours later, Bolland and Worrall returned to carry out the fatal attack, the jury heard. Both were arrested the next day.

Bolland's girlfriend at the time, Courtney Brierley, 23, (pictured) who 'encouraged or assisted them', was convicted of four counts of manslaughter at the first trial. She has admitted the manslaughter of Mrs Pearson and is awaiting sentence

Bolland’s girlfriend at the time, Courtney Brierley, 23, (pictured) who ‘encouraged or assisted them’, was convicted of four counts of manslaughter at the first trial. She has admitted the manslaughter of Mrs Pearson and is awaiting sentence

Mr Reid said Bolland denies murder and says he is only guilty of manslaughter and was wrongly convicted of the murders in 2018.

He claims it was his co-defendant’s idea to petrol bomb the house, and he thought no one was home at the time. 

Mr Reid said Worrall denies murder and claims he was also wrongly convicted in 2018.

His case is that he believed the house to be occupied but thought all that was going to happen was the family’s wheelie bins were going to be set on fire.

Bolland’s girlfriend at the time, Courtney Brierley, 23, who ‘encouraged or assisted them’, was convicted of four counts of manslaughter at the first trial.

She has admitted the manslaughter of Mrs Pearson and is awaiting sentence.