Petrol found on clothing of house fire trial dad Mick Philpott, court told
A MANSLAUGHTER trial has heard about petrol found on clothing worn by former Mansfield man Mick Philpott – and on debris from the house where six of his children died in a fire.
Petrol expert Rebecca Jewell told Nottingham Crown Court that Shell petrol additives were found on Philpott’s boxer shorts and a right-footed trainer.
Total and BP petrol additives were on his black Adidas tracksuit bottoms, left slipper, left trainer and grey socks.
The witness, a forensic scientist specialising in fire investigation, said there was also evidence of Shell additives on debris from the hallway of the house in Victory Road, Allenton, Derby.
The court heard that a fire dog had indicated the presence of petrol just inside the front door once the top layer of debris had been removed.
The expert told the jury it was not possible to say if any Total additives were present in the hall debris.
If there were any they would be masked by the presence of a chemical PPG, given off by such materials as carpet underlay and polyurethane.
It was also impossible to say one way or the other is there was any two-stroke oil there.
The jury have heard that a petrol strimmer was recovered from the garden. Petrol from the tank was found to have a mixture of additives, including Shell, as well as two-stroke oil.
The witness said Total petrol additives were found on leggings, a thong and a sandal belonging to Philpott’s wife Mairead – and on jeans, a jumper and a shoe belonging to family friend Paul Mosley.
Mick Philpott, 56, Mairead, 31, and Mosley, 46, plead not guilty to six counts of manslaughter of the children.
The defence case may start next week and the jury could be retiring to consider their verdicts at the end of the following week.
The trial continues.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Mansfield
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
