Eric Greener and Sheila Jackson died following an arson attack at their home
A man has been charged with murder after a couple were killed in a house fire. Eric Greener, 77, and his partner Sheila Jackson, 83, died following an alleged arson attack at their home on South John Street, in St Helens, on Tuesday, July 15.
Lee Owens, 46, of no fixed address has been charged with two counts of murder and arson with intent to endanger life. He has been remanded into custody to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Saturday morning (July 26).
A 31-year-old man from St Helens who was arrested on suspicion of murder remains on conditional bail.
Police said in the days that followed the arson attack accelerant had been used in the fire and neighbours told the ECHO how the front door was enveloped in flames, slowing down the firefighters’ attempts to rescue the couple.
Neighbours who spoke to the ECHO from the scene of the blaze described the pair as “good people”. Gavin Thelwell, who lives on the same block of terraced houses as the fire-damaged home, said: “When I came out of my house, there were fire engines that had already arrived, but the front door was on fire, which was stopping the firefighters from getting inside.
“They had to put that out before they managed to get them out of the house.” He continued: “I feel so sorry for them; they’re good people. I chat with them all the time.
“He’s usually walking down with his walking frame to go to the pub, and he’ll stop halfway by the street sign to have a break. They were always really nice – I just can’t believe this has happened. It’s so bad.”
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