An inquest has heard that housing bosses ruled against a request by the Pearson family to be rehomed two weeks before Michelle Pearson and four of her children were killed in a petrol bomb attack on their home.
Demi, 15; Brandon, eight; Lacie, seven; and Lia, three, died after their house was firebombed. Their mother Michelle, 37, died almost two years later from the injuries she suffered in the fire, Bolton Coroners' Court was told.
Housing Visit and Threat Assessment
On Thursday (October 22), the joint inquest heard evidence from Kate Kennedy, who was principal officer with Salford housing provider Salix Homes at the time. She said Ms Pearson attended the provider on November 27, 2017, and presented as 'homeless'. A form produced following the visit stated the reason Ms Pearson wanted to be moved from her home of 14 years was to 'flee from violence'.
The inquest heard criminal damage had been committed at the house, with windows smashed while the children were present, and threats had been made to 'petrol bomb' the property. The form featured the name Zak Bolland as a 'named perpetrator' and also stated 'retaliation?'. The document also stated 'targeted following stabbing of gang member'.
The inquest previously heard that Kyle, Ms Pearson's eldest son, was referenced in a form which stated he claimed he had '£1,000 on his head' and was 'at risk from a local gang', said to be Salford's notorious A-Team.
Police and Safeguarding Contact
Ms Kennedy said she did not attend the meeting with Ms Pearson herself but liaised with the officer after. She said she then decided to seek further information from Greater Manchester Police's safeguarding unit. She spoke with PC Christine Sharp, who confirmed that a 'safeguarding visit' was due to take place the following day; that an 'emergency response marker' had been placed on the property; and that a 'fire safety assessment' had been requested.
Ms Kennedy said GMP had not issued a 'threat to life' notice in relation to the Pearson family. Asked if her decision would have been different if one had been made, she said: "It is not something we would solely rely on."
A note on the form read: "I have not been told by GMP it is unsafe for them to continue to reside at the property." In her statement read to the court, PC Sharp said she would 'not have said there was no threat' to the family in her discussions.
Fatal Attack and Aftermath
Ms Kennedy told the inquest: "I was satisfied from the conversation with the police that whether she [Ms Pearson] was staying at that property or elsewhere that the risk was low." She continued: "It wasn't that we were saying that we weren't satisfied that the threat had occurred." The witness said she was satisfied that steps were 'being put in place to manage that situation, or reduce the risk of that situation'.
The inquest heard that on November 28, 2017, Bolland was arrested and released having been told no further action would be taken. On December 1, he attended at the house on Jackson Street 'shouting' about receiving no further action. On December 9, a wheelie bin was set on fire at the house.
Ms Kennedy said Salix did not have further contact with the police or other agencies regarding the Pearsons following Ms Pearson's visit on November 27. In the early hours of December 11, 2017, Bolland and an accomplice, David Worrall, 28, carried out the fatal attack.
In 2018, Bolland and Worrall were both given four life sentences and told they would serve a minimum of 40 and 37 years respectively for the petrol bombing. Bolland's girlfriend, Courtney Brierley, 20, was jailed for 21 years for four counts of manslaughter.
