FIRE TRIO PLEAD NOT GUILTY OVER WALKDEN FIRE DEATHS.

All three of the defendants, Zac Bolland, Courtney Brierley and David Worrall pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life, as members of the children's family sat weeping in the public gallery listening to the charges being read out.

All three confirmed their names but otherwise remained stood silent.

On December 11, 2017, 15 year old Demi Pearson, her eight-year-old brother Brandon, and younger sister Lacie, aged just seven, died when a blaze ripped through their home in Jackson Street, Walkden. Further tragedy was to fall upon the family as their sister, three-year-old Lia, lost her battle for life and sadly died two days later.

The 35-year-old mother of the children, Michelle Pearson was also seriously injured in the attack and is said to be still heavily sedated and being treated in hospital as a result, fortunately, 2 other juveniles in the home managed to escape the inferno before crews arrived.

The trial has been set to start on April 30th, 2018 and is expected to last four weeks.

All three of the accused have been remanded into custody until their trial date.