UK Mother Convicted of Manslaughter After Leaving Children to Die in House Fire

October 7, 2024

LONDON: Four young brothers lost their lives in a house fire, sparked by their mother's negligence. Deveca Rose, 28, was convicted of four counts of manslaughter by an Old Bailey jury, who deliberated for over three hours.

The tragic events transpired on December 16, 2021, when Rose left her two sets of twins, Leyton and Logan Hoath (3), and Kyson and Bryson Hoath (4), alone at their home. She had gone shopping at a nearby Sainsbury's store, leaving the children vulnerable to the hazards that would ultimately claim their lives.

Prosecutor Kate Lumsdon KC painted a dire picture of the household, describing it as a "death trap" filled with trash and human waste. The toilet and bath were rendered unusable due to the overwhelming amount of rubbish, forcing the family to resort to using buckets and pots as makeshift toilets.

The fire, allegedly sparked by a discarded cigarette or an overturned tea light, quickly spread throughout the house. The boys, trapped upstairs, desperately cried out for help but were unable to escape. Their lifeless bodies were later discovered under a bed.

Rose's defense claimed she had left the children in the care of a friend, but investigators found no evidence to support this assertion. Instead, they concluded that Rose had knowingly left her children alone, exposing them to the fatal risks that ultimately took their lives.

During the trial, jurors heard disturbing details about the household's hazardous conditions and Rose's reckless behavior. The prosecution argued that Rose's actions, or lack thereof, directly contributed to the children's deaths.

In a statement, Judge Mark Lucraft KC described the case as "tragic" and acknowledged the devastating impact on the family and community. Rose was granted bail until her sentencing on November 15.

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