A 13-year-old school girl tragically died on the top of her bunk bed after it was “set on fire with a lighter”, an inquest heard.
Firefighters arrived to the house on Kingsway, Prescot, and searched for Layla Allen – the only family member still inside the blazing house.
Sign up for newsletter
Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy
Layla Allen was found dead by firefighters on the top of a bunk bed
An inquest has found the cause of the fire to have likely been from a lighterCredit: CHRIS NEILL
The teenager was found lying on the top bunk of a bunk bed in her room and pronounced dead at the scene.
At Layla’s inquest today, coroner Anita Bhardwaj said: “Police were unable to interview the other children present in the house, and what police have said in effect is that they had been prevented from gathering further evidence, and without statements from all parties present they cannot rule out anything.
“It’s correct to say that they couldn’t interview the other children because of the damage that it would cause to them.
“That the family have indicated that interviews would cause too much harm to the children and they would have to relive the incident.
Read more news
GANG HORROR
Afghan gang member trafficked boys on small boats to rape & blackmail them
FALL HORROR
Man in his 50s falls from historic UK castle and suffers multiple injuries
“This was supported by the children’s social care, and this prevented evidence being gathered,” reports the Liverpool Echo.
Layla’s parents, Shaun Allen and Michelle McGurry, and her five siblings had managed to escape the burning house.
But the Year 8 student of St Edmund Arrowsmith School in Whiston was still trapped inside and was found dead by firefighters on her bunk bed.
Merseyside Police discovered no evidence that a third party from outside of the house had been involved.
