BOLLAND AND WORRALL ARE HANDED LIFE SENTENCES WHILST COURTNEY BRIERLY IS SET TO SPEND 21 YEARS IN A YOUNG OFFENDERS INSTITUTION

Zak Bolland (23/08/1994) of Blackleach Drive, Worsley and David Worrall (15/04/1992) of Worsley Avenue, Worsley have today, Thursday 24 May 2018, been jailed for life after they were found guilty of the murder of 15-year old Demi Pearson, 8-year-old Brandon Pearson, 7-year-old Lacie Pearson and 3-year-old Lia Pearson.

During the course of a four-week trial, the court heard how Bolland, Worrall and Brierley made homemade petrol bombs in the kitchen of a nearby address.

Brierley then waited in a nearby car while Bolland and Worrall smashed through the kitchen window of the Pearson’s home and threw homemade petrol bombs into the kitchen and living room.

This afternoon at Manchester Crown Court Zak Bolland, 23, has been found guilty of murdering four children after an arson attack on a house in Walkden last December which left 4 children dead and their mother in a coma and fighting for her life in hospital, where she continues to recover. Bolland was also found guilty of three counts of attempted murder.

Today he was sentenced to Life with a minimum of 40 years imprisonment, as he was sent down he bowed his head.

His co-defendant, David Worrall, 25, was also found to be guilty of murdering four children but was found not guilty of three counts of attempted murder. Additionally, he was found to be guilty of three alternative counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was handed a life sentence with a minimum of 37 years behind bars for his part in this horrific crime.

Meanwhile, Courtney Brierley, 20, (who was Bolland's girlfriend at the time) was found not guilty of the murders of the four children but the court decided she was guilty of the alternative charge of manslaughter in each of the cases.

The court decided that she not guilty of three counts of attempted murder.

Brierley (25/07/1997) of Worsley Avenue, Worsley was found guilty of the manslaughter of Demi, Brandon, Lacie and Lia. She was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

Detective Chief Inspector Lewis Hughes from GMP’s Major Incident Team said:

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“This is one of the most heart breaking cases I have ever dealt with.

“I am glad that the sentences these three have received today reflect their atrocious acts, but nothing can change what has happened and nothing can bring back the children.

“I would like to commend the bravery of the children’s family. I can’t even begin to imagine what they have been through.

“My thoughts will always be with their mother Michelle, along with their father, brothers and wider family and friends.

“They have all shown a phenomenal amount of strength during the most devastating of circumstances.

“When Bolland, Worrall and Brierley planned their attack, they knew that innocent children were asleep in their beds.

“They smashed the kitchen window and threw their handmade petrol bombs inside. The fire spread so quickly and the heat was so intense that the smoke alarms melted before they had chance to sound. This left the family with virtually no chance of escape.

“Understandably the children’s family will still have questions which we will continue to try and answer.

“Michelle Pearson is still in hospital and will be for some time to come. I wish her the very best with her recovery.

“I hope achieving some justice can give her a small amount of peace in these most difficult and tragic circumstances.

“The children’s family should now be given the time to grieve and finally lay the children to rest.”

GMP have now released horrific images from within the house where the murdered children were sleeping, they stood no chance of escaping the roaring inferno that engulfed their home which stole four innocent lives away from a loving family.

Three of the children, Demi, Lacie and Brandon were to perish at the scene with their little sister Lia clinging on to life but sadly dying later from her horrific injuries.

Mother Michelle was left in a Coma as a result of the fire and it was not long ago that she learned of the fates of her children and the outcome of that fateful evening. It is still not known if she understands fully what has happened.

The real target of the attack, their elder brother Kyle, 16, was lucky to escape with his life along with his friend Bobby Harris who is also 16, they both had to climb out of a window of the box room they were in to escape the blaze.

Kyle tried to kick the front door down to get back into the property to save his mum and siblings but by then it was too late and he was blown backwards along with a neighbour due to the backdraft as the neighbour managed to kick the door open.

Four young lives snuffed out after an argument over a cheap Peugeot car got out of hand.

Bolland blamed Kyle Pearson for setting a car he had bought for just a few hundred pounds on fire, this caused an ongoing feud between the pair and set Bolland off on a mission to terrorise the family with threats and violent behaviour, it is believed that Bolland was also behind an earlier arson attack in which a wheelie bin at the property was set alight. 

Hours before the attack took place, Bolland had been to the Pearsons home where he had made threats to Michelle Pearson, he was heard to say that "I am going to do your house" and also that he would "kill them all".

Police were made aware and called to the property shortly afterwards and hourly checks were promised on the home, unbeknown to all, a plot had already been hatched to buy and manufacture the 2 petrol bombs used by Bolland and Worrall in the evil and monstrous attack which would claim the children's lives.

Today's sentencing will do little to alleviate the pain and suffering that the Pearson family has endured but they can take a small amount of comfort in knowing that justice has been served and that these monsters are now behind bars and unable to hurt others.

In a statement from the family, Sandra Lever, grandmother of the chilldren said:

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“Today may be the end of the trial but it is not the end for us as we try to recover and get on with our lives.

“Michelle, the children’s mum, is still recovering from her injuries and will be in hospital for some time to come.

“The staff have been brilliant and are doing their best to try to fix her but will never be able to fix her broken heart.

“We miss her children everyday. Our lives just aren’t the same without them.

“I was a nana of 11, now I’m a nana of seven.

“We will never again hear their voices shouting out Nana, Grandad, Auntie Claire, Auntie Sarah, Uncle Chris or Uncle Matty.

“That thought leaves us numb.

“We won’t be able to tell them off for the running in the supermarket, or hear them giggle as they jump too high on the trampoline.

“I hope that Bolland, Worrall and Brierley know they have taken away the light of our lives.

“We are very happy with the result and would like to thank all those who have helped us to get justice.”

 

Throughout this terrible ordeal, the Pearson family has conducted itself with courage and dignity under unimaginable circumstances, the hearts of a City continue to mourn their losses and share in their pain and grief.