Teenager on fire death charges struggles to hold back tears in dock

Dyson Allen, 19, struggled to hold back tears as he stood in the dock accused of the murders in the blaze which engulfed a bungalow in Freckleton, Lancashire, last January.

Allen, wearing a white shirt hanging outside his trousers and a grey hoodie, is alleged to have killed Reece Smith, 19, four-year-old twins Holly and Ella Smith and two-year-old Jordan Smith.

The defendant made a brief appearance for a hearing lasting just two minutes at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Flanked by a security guard, he sat, head in hands, and spoke only to confirm his name and address.

Joanne Cunliffe, prosecuting, asked the bench to remand the defendant into custody and send the case to Preston Crown Court for a further hearing on Monday.

Hugh Pond, defending, told the court: “Dyson Allen denies these allegations, when interviewed on the 11th and 12th of January this year. He denied it at length on Wednesday and Thursday of this week and will continue to deny the matter when it comes before Preston Crown Court next week.”

The four victims died after the blaze at a converted bungalow in Freckleton, a village between Blackpool and Preston, which broke out just hours after the family held a party at the house to celebrate the birthday of the victims’ mother, Michelle Smith.

Ms Smith, 36, who has five other children, survived the blaze. The four siblings were taken to hospital following the fire but died later from smoke inhalation.

Collette Woodhouse, chair of the bench, told Dyson, of no fixed abode, he must remain in custody before his appearance at crown court on Monday.