Four young boys tragically lost their lives after being left home alone and repeatedly called out for help as a fire raged through their house, a court in South London has heard. Deveca Rose, 29, allegedly left her two sets of twins, Leyton and Logan Hoath, aged three, and Kyson and Bryson Hoath, aged four, locked inside their mid-terraced house in Sutton while she went shopping at a Sainsbury’s store. It is claimed that a discarded cigarette or tea light in the living room ignited a fire that quickly spread through the property.
During the trial at the Old Bailey, London Fire Brigade station officer Darren Woodhams testified that despite there being a smoke detector on the first floor landing, it was non-functional as it lacked batteries. A neighbour alerted by a passer-by made repeated calls to the fire brigade upon hearing the children’s pleas for help. The neighbour observed smoke and flames coming from the house but was unable to rescue the boys due to the intensity of the fire.
Upon the arrival of eight fire engine units at the scene on Collingwood Road, firefighters bravely entered the burning house to rescue the children. Despite facing obstacles like a mattress and door on the stairs, they managed to locate the boys, all unconscious and unresponsive, under a bed. Tragically, Logan, Leyton, Kyson, and Bryson succumbed to the fire’s fumes despite efforts to resuscitate them.
The court also heard that Ms. Rose had claimed she left the boys with a friend named Jade, but investigations revealed Jade’s absence on the fateful evening. Pictures presented in court showed the extensive fire damage and clutter inside the residence. Rose, from Wallington, South London, denied charges of manslaughter and child cruelty.
The trial at the Old Bailey continues as the heartbreaking details of the children’s final moments unfold in court. Firefighters’ heroic efforts to rescue the boys from the blaze serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of leaving young children unattended. The community mourns the loss of four innocent lives and seeks justice for the young victims who perished in the tragic fire.