A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded when a fire claimed the lives of four young brothers after their mother left them alone in a trash-filled home.
The tragic event occurred while their mother, Deveca Rose, 29, was out shopping at Sainsbury’s.
The court has heard today that the fire started due to either a discarded cigarette or an upturned tea light in their cluttered living room, which was buried under 20 centimeters of rubbish.
Neighbors’ Heroic Attempt
Neighbors heard the desperate screams of the children and tried to rescue them by kicking down the door.
Unfortunately, the smoke had already overpowered the twins, Kyson and Bryson, aged four, and their younger siblings, Leyton and Logan, aged three, making rescue efforts impossible.
Shocking Living Conditions
The Old Bailey was told of the shocking conditions in which the children were living.
Their home was described as being in a deplorable state, with human waste on the floor and rats drawn by heaps of rubbish.
The single mother, who is now facing charges of killing her four sons and child cruelty, had ignored previous warnings about her children’s welfare.
Failed Interventions
Social services had attempted to intervene months before the fire, concerned about Rose’s mental health after finding her home and garden filled with waste.
However, Rose reportedly refused to let a social worker see her children, claiming she was unable to focus or manage daily tasks.
Despite these concerns, the case was dropped after six unsuccessful attempts by the social worker to visit the family.
Unanswered Calls for Help
In addition, teachers had tried to reach out after the children missed school for three weeks before the fire.
It was assumed that Rose was self-isolating during the Covid pandemic, but this did not address the underlying issues.
The Night of the Fire
On the evening of December 16, 2021, Rose left her four children alone while she went to Sainsbury’s for what she described as “non-essential items.”
She later explained that she left because she was overwhelmed by the children’s behavior, particularly their tendency to pull open rubbish bags.
When Rose returned, she found the road blocked by fire engines and initially claimed to a neighbor that she had left the children with a babysitter.
However, this supposed babysitter has never been found.
Legal Proceedings
Prosecutor Kate Lumsdon, KC, detailed how the neighbors’ attempts to rescue the children were thwarted by the intensity of the fire.
Firefighters found the boys under a bed in the upstairs room, surrounded by debris and waste.
Despite lifesaving efforts performed on the pavement outside, the boys could not be saved.
Deveca Rose is currently facing charges of manslaughter and child cruelty, which she denies.
She was seen crying and making loud noises in court as the trial began.
Due to an eye condition, Rose has been permitted to follow the trial from a side room with lower lighting.
The trial continues as the court weighs the impact of this devastating incident on both the victims and their grieving mother.
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