Police watchdog to reopen investigation into death of Michelle Pearson and four children

The family say that they accept the delay into the full hearing with a "heavy heart"

The death of a mum and four of her children killed in a devastating arson attack will be reinvestigated by a police watchdog, a pre inquest hearing heard.

Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed that it will re-open their investigation into police contact with the family prior to the devastating incident on December 11, 2017.

That winter, four of Michelle's children - Demi Pearson, 14, Brandon, aged eight, seven-year-old Lacie, and younger sister Lia, three - were killed after a petrol bomb was thrown through the window of their home on Jackson Street, Walkden.

Michelle, who was also in the home, "clung on to life" in a coma after suffering 68 percent burns in the blaze.

Four months later, she woke up to the news of her children's deaths. She later died of her injuries two years later in August 2019, at 37-years-old.

She spent her final months in hospital and a care home. Zak Bolland and David Worrall were both given four life sentences and told they would serve a minimum of 40 and 37 years respectively for the attack in the early hours of December 11, 2017.

The pair smashed a kitchen window and threw two petrol bombs inside, trapping the family upstairs, while Bolland's girlfriend, Courtney Brierley, waited in a nearby car.

Brierley was jailed for 21 years for four counts of manslaughter after the trial at Manchester Crown Court in 2018. Bolland and Worrall received the same sentences after being found guilty of the murder of Michelle in a separate trial in 2021.

Brierley admitted Michelle's manslaughter and received an additional, concurrent, 12-year sentence.

This morning (June 16), a pre-inquest review was held at Bolton Coroner's Court, overseen by the Senior Coroner for Manchester West, Timothy Brennand. Members of Michelle's family were present.

Zak Bolland, David Worrall and Courtney Brierley were also present via video link.

While representatives from Greater Manchester Police, Manchester University Foundation Trust (MFT), IOPC were also in attendance.

At the hearing, Nicholas Flanagan KC, representing IOPC told the hearing that the watchdog will begin a new investigation into the case and stated that it will "ensure that a full and fair investigation" is held.

Mr Flanagan stated that the procedure is expected to take 9-12 months to ensure that all the appropriate persons are interviewed. Mr Brennand welcomed the IOPC decision to re-open the case and stated that the court is "very much in the hands of the investigation."

Previously, the family had raised concerns about the IOPC's original investigation into the case.

Mrs Pearson's home was previously attacked, its windows and doors smashed, graffiti sprayed on the walls and her wheelie bin set on fire, the trial of her killers heard.

Michelle called police at least five times in the two weeks before her children died as Zak Bolland threatened her family. Each time police attended, she named Bolland as responsible.

She saw at least six different officers, statements were made, risk referral forms completed, fire service personnel carried out two 'safe and well' visits, the family social worker was informed and social services alerted.

Officers from GMP took a statement from Mrs Pearson on the night of the fire, having been called out after Bolland had been round 'kicking off'. It is not clear if officers immediately actively sought out Bolland, who lived around 300 yards from her and was at home at the time the officers called, the Manchester Evening News previously reported.

Anna Morris KC, who represents the family, said that the family accepted the delay that the investigation would bring with a "heavy heart" and added that there was some "frustration" at the time it for the case to be reopened.

Miss Morris added: "All they have wanted to know is the truth" and that in some cases the family have felt "misled."

To account for the new investigation, Mr Brennand stated that two further pre inquest hearings will take place on 9 October and 24 April. A full hearing is set to commence on 5 October next year and it is expected to last eight weeks.