Paul Joseph Smith, 40, who set fire to a house in St Helens killing two pensioners, died from mixed drug toxicity and his body was discovered in a wheelie bin two days after he overdosed in a bath, an inquest heard.
Arson and Deaths
On July 15 2025, Smith started a fire at a home on South John Street in St Helens, killing Eric Greener, 77, and Sheila Jackson, 83. The fire was intended for Sheila's son George Jackson amid a dispute over drugs. Lee Owens, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, claimed Smith torched the house over a personal dispute relating to Kylie Maynard, who had stayed with George Jackson.
Kevin Weetman, Kylie Maynard and Lee Owens were convicted over the deaths. Weetman was jailed for life with a minimum of 25 years for planning the attack, Maynard for 23 years, and Owens for 13 years and six months. They were cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter.
Death of the Arsonist
On July 20 2025, Smith took a range of drugs including heroin and cocaine at a house on Coniston Street in Everton. He is believed to have overdosed in a bath, with water found in his lungs. His death was not reported until July 22, when Steven Wales called Merseyside Police stating Smith had died in the bath and advised he had drowned or overdosed two days prior.
Senior coroner André Rebello told the court: "I understand his body had been removed from the bath and then to the rear of a different property." Officers later found Smith's body in a wheelie bin behind derelict buildings on Thirlmere Road.
Inquest Findings
A pathology report by Dr Matthew Lyall found it nearly "impossible" to prove a third party was responsible for drowning due to the significant level of drugs. The report stated: "Neither can it be entirely excluded that the deceased was held under water by a third party, but pathological findings cannot prove that occurred." The medical cause of death was mixed drug toxicity.
Smith had been assaulted two days before the fire in a case of mistaken identity, for which he was treated at Royal Liverpool Hospital. A murder investigation into his death was launched but later closed.
Tributes
In a tribute, Smith's family described him as "an amazing father to five children who adored him" and "the life and soul of the party." His daughter Macie said: "He is my best friend in the whole world, I will always be your little princess and I will love you forever." His son added: "We will miss you so much from your three best mates in the world your boys. We will make sure Annie always knows about her daddy."
Concluding the inquest, Mr Rebello said: "On July 20, 2025, Paul Joseph Smith was found having died in a bath at Coniston Street, Liverpool. He died from taking illicit and sedative drugs which caused respiratory failure. His body was removed from the bath, delaying the report of his death to July 22, 2025, with his body being found in a wheelie bin at the rear of Thirlmere Road, Liverpool."
