Mum-of-six died clutching photo of four children murdered in petrol bomb attack

Mum-of-six died clutching photo of four children murdered in petrol bomb attack Michelle Pearson, 37, died almost two years after her children Demi, 14, Brandon, eight, Lacie, seven, and Lia, three, were killed in a horrific arson attack on their home in Walkden, Salford A mum-of-six died in hospital holding a photograph of four of her children who were murdered in a petrol bomb attack at their home two years previously, an inquest heard today. Michelle Pearson passed away after a 'lengthy and courageous' fight 21 months after the deaths of Demi, 14, Brandon, eight, Lacie, seven, and Lia, three. They were killed after petrol bombs were launched at the house in Walkden, Salford, in the early hours of December 11, 2017. An inquest today heard how Michelle, 37, died almost two years later holding her children’s pictures after suffering severe burns and spending months in a coma. Her family also wrapped a crucifix around her hand as she passed away, Manchester Evening News reports. The hearing, at Bolton Coroner's Court, will examine the tragic house fire which claimed the lives of five members of the same family. "We know that she is back with her children," a family statement read out at the inquest said. Ms Pearson's family told how she was "pleading with" Salford Council to rehome her in the weeks before the arson attack. They said she was "beyond stressed" with what was described as a "tit-for-tat feud" that escalated and ultimately ended in tragedy. Her children, said the family, were 'petrified' of living at the property on Jackson Street. Zak Bolland and David Worrall, then 23 and 25, were jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 40 and 37 years respectively after being convicted of the murders of the children in May 2018. Bolland's then girlfriend, Courtney Brierley, who had waited in a nearby car while the attack went on, was jailed for 21 years for manslaughter. Bolland and Worrall were also found guilty of Michelle's murder at a separate trial in 2021. Brierley admitted manslaughter and received an additional, concurrent, 12-year sentence. Senior coroner Timothy Brennand read out the sentencing remarks of the trial judge, Mr Justice William Davis, to open the inquest. The inquest heard Mr Justice Davis spoke of a feud “between some members of the Pearson family and Zac Bolland and Courtney Brierley”. "What lay behind the feud has never been made public," he said. The inquest heard of cars being damaged and Boland smashing windows of the Pearson home with a hammer. Boland had also “threatened to use fire” on the property. Mr Justice Davies told of “a series of relatively trivial incidents gradually increasing in seriousness which had no conceivable justification, but which could and should have gone no further” in his sentencing remarks. After drinking and taking cocaine, Bolland and Worrall - armed with an axe and a machete - went to the Pearson home in the early hours. The inquest heard they had made two petrol bombs - one from a large clear bottle and the other from a beer bottle. Worrall smashed a rear window and threw one inside, which ignited "but only to a limited extent". Bolland's petrol bomb “exploded with considerable force” and the resulting blaze consumed the house. "The defendants must have known that they had been responsible for setting on fire an occupied house yet they behaved as if nothing had happened," said the trial judge in her sentencing remarks. The fire, the inquest heard, was “swift and deadly”. Coroner Mr Brennand said a homicide investigation began and convictions followed. He said the inquest would seek to examine whether there was “any predictable threat to life” and “what could or should have been done that might have prevented these deaths”. Mr Brennand said it would assess and scrutinise “how state agencies worked together” to manage any risk after Ms Pearson's reports. "The family are at the heart of this process," he said. "The intention is to give the family a voice." Family “pen portraits” of the children were read out. Demi was described as a “happy and smiley child with a heart of gold”. She was found near a bunk bed and died at the scene. Brandon was the “brainbox” of the family who was said to have an “amazing vocabulary”. "His favourite word was putrid," the family said. He would pick flowers from the park and loved the Beatles. Lacie loved to dance and was “a YouTube star in the making”, the family said, also paying tribute to Lia as having a “cheeky laugh and a smile that would melt your heart”. Lia died two days later in hospital.