Women denies murdering five in fire

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.