Drug Dealers Show Disdain After Being Cleared of Murder in Fatal Arson Attack
In a shocking display of contempt, a pair of drug dealers smirked and joked in the dock today after being cleared of murdering an innocent elderly couple in a deliberate arson attack. The fire, which was ignited over a mere £400 cocaine debt, claimed the lives of Sheila Jackson, 83, and Eric Greener, 77, who were rescued from the blaze but tragically died days later in hospital.
Revenge Attack Over Drug Debt Goes Horribly Wrong
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the intended target of the vicious attack was actually Mrs Jackson's 48-year-old son, George Jackson. He had fortuitously left the terraced property in St Helens, Merseyside, just minutes earlier to visit a local shop, only to return to find his home engulfed in flames and thick, black smoke.
Prosecutor Nigel Power KC revealed that the arson was orchestrated by 34-year-old drug dealer Kevin Weetman, known on the streets as 'Red Head'. The court was told Weetman ordered the attack "to avoid losing face in the drugs world" after a dispute over payment for a bag of cocaine worth between £400 and £700.
The dispute centered on conflicting claims about the drugs' status. George Jackson maintained the cocaine had been given to him as a thank you gift when he provided shelter to one of Weetman's dealers, 37-year-old Kylie Maynard, after she had been assaulted. Weetman, however, insisted it was a transaction that required payment.
Deadly Retaliation in the Early Hours
In what prosecutors described as a brutal act of revenge, Weetman recruited two low-level dealers—46-year-old Lee Owens and 40-year-old Paul Smith—to carry out his malicious plan. In the early hours of July 15 last year, the pair rode to Jackson's home and deliberately set it alight.
Terrified neighbors reported hearing a woman's high-pitched screams emanating from the property and witnessing Mrs Jackson desperately shouting for help from an upstairs window. They described seeing plumes of black smoke and the front door completely ablaze just after 12:30 AM.
Verdicts and Reactions in Court
After nearly twelve hours of deliberations, a jury of six men and six women cleared Weetman, Owens, and Maynard of murder charges. However, they found Weetman and Maynard guilty of the elderly couple's manslaughter. Owens, who admitted to being "drunk and drugged up to the eyeballs" on the night of the attack, had already pleaded guilty to the same manslaughter charge.
The court heard that Paul Smith tragically took his own life just one week after the devastating fire.
In a disturbing scene following the verdicts, Weetman and Owens were observed smiling and laughing with one another in the dock. Maynard, who denied passing on Weetman's instructions to the other two, showed no visible reaction to the outcome.
Severe Sentences Await the Convicted
All three defendants now face substantial prison terms when they are sentenced this Thursday. Mr Justice Jay, the High Court judge presiding over the case, issued a stern warning to Weetman's barrister, Peter Wright KC, indicating that his client qualifies for a "discretionary life sentence" due to being considered "very dangerous."
During cross-examination earlier in the trial, Weetman made a startling distinction in his testimony: "I'm a drug dealer, not a killer. I don't set fire to people’s houses. I don't go to where old people live. Innocent people, no. Civilians, no."
He continued with a chilling admission: "People like Paul Smith, yeah. I smashed his head in with my hands and he deserved it. I don't kill people. People who deserve it, people who are in this life with me, yeah."
The Tragic Aftermath and Investigation Details
Prosecutor Power detailed how the attack unfolded from Weetman's perspective: "Weetman resolved to take action to prevent a loss of 'face' and set in motion a plan to kill, or at least cause really serious harm to, George Jackson by setting fire to his house in the middle of night. Whilst Paul Smith and Lee Owens failed to kill Mr Jackson, the fire they set caused the deaths of Eric and Sheila."
The court heard that Mrs Jackson and Mr Greener had lived together peacefully in the terraced house for many years, with acquaintances confirming they had never known them to have disputes with anyone.
In a desperate 999 call, Mrs Jackson told operators the house was on fire and she couldn't breathe. Fire crews arrived promptly around 12:40 AM, immediately rescuing her from her upstairs bedroom. They discovered Mr Greener unconscious but breathing in a chair in the living room.
Both victims received emergency treatment from paramedics at the scene before being transported to Whiston Hospital. Tragically, Mr Greener succumbed to his injuries the following day, with Mrs Jackson passing away on July 17.
Drug Network Connections and Aftermath
Following the arson, Smith and Owens drove to a house in Anfield, Liverpool, where they met with Maynard. Prosecutor Power described Maynard as "Weetman's right-hand woman when it comes to dealing drugs," noting she began reporting back to Weetman about the attack's outcome.
The court heard there was no dispute that Smith and Owens started the fire by pouring flammable liquid on the front door and igniting it. Before his death, Smith confessed to his girlfriend: "I had to go somewhere and set a house on fire but the fella's mum and dad were upstairs. Red Head told me to do it."
He added with remorse that he hadn't killed the right man and that "Red Head was mad at me." Owens, who has no fixed address, admitted acting as Smith's lookout during the arson but claimed he believed the house was empty at the time.
In addition to the manslaughter convictions, both Weetman and Maynard admitted conspiring together to supply cocaine between November 2024 and September 2025, further highlighting their entrenched positions within the local drug trade.
