A mother has been charged with manslaughter and child cruelty in London after four boys were killed by a house fire.
At a Glance
- Four young boys died in a fire at their home in Sutton, south London.
- The victims were two sets of twins: Leyton and Logan Hoath, aged three, and Kyson and Bryson Hoath, aged four.
- The children ran upstairs and cried for help but were unable to escape the locked house.
- Neighbors noticed the fire and attempted to rescue the children but were unable to due to the advanced state of the fire.
- The fire was likely caused by a discarded cigarette or an upturned tea light.
Tragic Incident in Sutton, South London
On a tragic December evening, four young boys perished due to a devastating fire at their home in Sutton, south London. The victims, identified as two sets of twins, Leyton and Logan Hoath, aged three, and Kyson and Bryson Hoath, aged four, were unable to escape the flames after running upstairs and shouting for help.
Their mother, Deveca Rose, 29, has been charged with manslaughter and child cruelty following the incident. According to prosecutors, Rose had left the children home alone to go to Sainsbury’s to shop for non-essential items.
Four boys died in rubbish-strewn house fire – court https://t.co/8twlS8jZSm
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) September 16, 2024
The State of the Home
The home where the boys lived was reportedly in a deplorable condition. Kate Lumsdon, KC, of the prosecution, said rubbish and human excrement littered the floors, and a mattress and door were on the stairs. The trial, which is currently ongoing, has revealed shocking details about the state of neglect and the actions of the mother leading up to the incident.
Neighbors noticed the fire and attempted to rescue the children but were unable to due to the advanced state of the fire. Prosecutors have pointed out that the fire likely started from a discarded cigarette or an upturned tea light, rapidly spreading due to the cluttered condition of the house.
Prosecution’s Case
Lumsdon, emphasized the role of Rose’s alleged negligence in the deaths of her children. The inoperable smoke alarm, the cluttered environment, and the absence of an actual caretaker further exacerbated the tragic outcome.
The trial has brought to light previous interactions with social services, which had attempted to intervene but were obstructed by Rose. These attempts by social workers were reportedly due to concerns about Rose’s mental health and the conditions of the home. Nevertheless, the case was dropped due to a lack of engagement from Rose, per the prosecution.
The Aftermath and Ongoing Trial
Four 999 calls reporting the fire brought eight fire engines to the scene, but despite the efforts of firefighters, the young boys were found unconscious in an upstairs front room. They were pronounced dead at the hospital, with the cause of death being inhalation of fumes.
The trial is ongoing, and Rose denies the charges of manslaughter and child cruelty. The tragic loss of these young lives and the haunting negligence that led to it serve as a harrowing reminder of the importance of vigilance and responsibility in safeguarding our children’s lives.
Sources
- Four boys died in rubbish-strewn house fire – court
- 2 Sets of Twin Boys Died Alone in House Fire While Their Mother Went Shopping: Prosecutors
- Four brothers died in fire ‘surrounded by excrement and rubbish while their mother went to Sainsbury’s’ weeks after social services dropped case, court hears
- Four boys died in fire ‘in rubbish-filled house as mother shopped’
