Women denies murdering five in fire (From Andover Advertiser)
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Women denies murdering five in fire
2:58pm Tuesday 8th January 2013 in National News © Press Association 2013
Two-year-old Skye Allen was one of five members of a family who died after a fire engulfed their home in Prestatyn (North Wales Police/PA)
A woman has denied murdering five members of a family who died after a fire engulfed their home in north Wales.
Melanie Jane Smith, 42, pleaded not guilty to five counts of murder when she appeared by video-link before Caernarfon Crown Court.
Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, and her four-year-old nephew Bailey and two-year-old niece Skye died in the blaze at their home in Prestatyn on October 19 last year.
Firefighters managed to rescue Ms Shiers' 15-month-old son Charlie and his father Liam Timbrell, 23, from their first-floor flat, but they both died later in hospital.
Smith, who lived in the flat below the victims in Maes y Groes, also denied one count of making a threat to destroy or damage property.
The defendant was remanded in custody by Judge Merfyn Hughes QC until a pre-trial hearing on March 18.
Her trial will begin in April on a date to be fixed.
