Man acquitted of arson deaths

Eight-year-old Lily Almond died in hospital

A man has been acquitted of deliberately starting a fatal fire in which two young girls and a 25-year-old man died.

Aaron White and Gary Elsey were alleged to have set fire to Lauren Almond's flat in Somerset because they were angry about an earlier argument, Bristol Crown Court heard.

The woman's daughter, eight-year-old Lily Almond, her half-sister, Laura, aged 14, and a third person, Jamie Pursey, 25, all died after the fire in Friarn Street, Bridgwater.

Mr White and Elsey - who was Ms Almond's former lover - originally each pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder, but earlier in the trial, Elsey admitted a lesser charge of manslaughter.

Three survivors

The jury was told that Ms Almond had argued with both defendants about an hour before the fire in February.

She admitted spraying CS gas into 23-year-old Mr White's face during the argument, because she believed he had broken into her flat earlier that night.

At the time of the blaze Ms Almond was not in the flat.

Three men who were also sleeping there survived.

On Wednesday a jury returned a verdict of not guilty for Mr White, on charges of manslaughter.

Elsey is due to be sentenced on Friday.