The mother of four children killed in a petrol bomb attack on their home has died almost two years on from the fire.
Michelle Pearson, 37, suffered 75 per cent burns after two thugs threw petrol bombs through the window of her house in Walkden, Salford, in December 2017.
The horrific attack, which claimed the lives of her children Demi, 15, Brandon, eight, Lacie, seven and Lia, three, came after a petty feud between the attackers and the children’s older brother Kyle, 16, who escaped the flames with a friend.
His mother spent 20 months in hospital fighting her injuries, but died yesterday evening.
Michelle’s mother Sandra Lever said in a heart-breaking statement: ‘Sadly last night after a hard 20 months of fighting our beautiful Michelle gained her wings and went to join her babies.’
Before and after: Michelle Pearson, 37, has died in hospital 20 months after a petrol bomb attack on her Salford home that claimed the lives of four of her children
The Pearson house in Walkden, Salford, Greater Manchester is pictured with scaffolding after the fire that killed four children in December 2017
CCTV footage shows the house explode into flames after petrol bombs were thrown through the windows in December 2017
Michelle’s mother Sandra announecd the news of her death on social media today
Greater Manchester Police say they will review their original criminal investigation, which saw Zak Bolland, David Worrall and Courtney Brierley jailed for a total of 98 years.
Former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal, known for bringing the notorious Rochdale gang to justice, has called for the two men to be charged with Michelle Pearson’s murder as well as her children’s.
He said today: ‘Those convicted of the murder of her children now need to be charged with her murder. Time is no longer a bar to prosecution. Such a sad case.’
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes added: ‘Yesterday, we were made aware that Michelle Pearson, who was seriously injured in a house fire in Walkden in 2017, passed away.
‘As the Senior Investigating Officer for the investigation into the fire, I know first-hand how devastating the death of her four children was for Michelle and the news of her passing is incredibly tragic.
‘I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Michelle’s loved ones at this terrible time.
‘We will ensure that they receive any support they need from the investigation team as they come to terms with their loss.’
Pictured: Brandon, eight, Lacie, seven, and Lia, three, were all killed in the petrol bomb attack
Victim, Demi Pearson, 15, also died in the fire at her home in Walkden, Salford in 2017
The Pearson home went up in flames after petrol bombs were thrown into their house at around 5am on December 11 2017.
Michelle’s son Kyle managed to escape, with his mother and young sister Lacie pulled from the flames. The toddler died two days later.
Bolland was convicted of four counts of murder and three of attempted murder and was handed a minimum 40 year sentence.
His friend David Worrall was also convicted of the four murders and three counts of attempted GBH and was handed a 37 year sentence.
Bolland’s then girlfriend Courtney Brierley was found guilty of four counts of manslaughter and was jailed for 21 years.
Ms Pearson was left too ill to attend her children’s funerals in September 2018.
Earlier this year the family shared a video of her in a wheelchair with a tracheotomy tube releasing four balloons in memory of her four children.
CCTV images captured Bolland and Worrall filling up a petrol can at a Texaco fuel station before arriving at the Pearson home in Walkden, Greater Manchester.
Zak Bolland (left) and David Worrall (right) were convicted of four counts of murder over the fire
The two men then removed a fence panel from the garden, smashed a kitchen window and tossed in two lit petrol bombs.
One landed near the stairs, blocking the only exit to the ground floor and trapped the occupants as they lay asleep inside.
Bolland’s then girlfriend Courtney Brierley was found guilty of four counts of manslaughter and was jailed for 21 years
Kyle managed to escape from an upstairs window but his four siblings, who were sleeping in a front bedroom, perished in the flames.
Younger sister Lia, aged three, was rescued from the house but died in hospital two days later.
Mrs Pearson, who was sleeping in the same room as Lia, escaped the blaze but was overheard screaming ‘Not the kids! Not my kids!’ as the fire engulfed the three bedroom mid-terrace house.
CCTV shown to the jury showed Bolland and Worrall at the address at 4.55am for one minute and five seconds.
The cameras recorded a flash then a larger second one from the petrol bombs, before they fled.
Neighbours ran out to help but were beaten back by the heat and flames as multiple 999 calls were made.
Three fire engines scrambled to the scene, the first arriving at 5.04am, with firefighters discovering Brandon face down on his bedroom floor, as if trying to crawl out, and Lacie directly behind him, suggesting she was following her brother to try to escape.
Michelle Pearson, 37, can be seen releasing balloons in honour of Demi, 15, Brandon, eight, and his sisters, Lacie, seven, and Lia, three, who were killed in a house fire in December 2017
