A 29-year-old mother accused of killing her four sons in a tragic house fire in Sutton, south London, has been accused in court of failing to replace the battery in their smoke alarm. The blaze claimed the lives of Kyson and Bryson Hoath, aged four, and their brothers Leyton and Logan Hoath, aged three, in December 2021.
Mother of four boys who died in fire ‘surrounded by excrement and rubbish while she went to Sainsbury’s
Deveca Rose, who left the children unattended while she went shopping at Sainsbury’s, was charged with four counts of manslaughter and one count of child cruelty.
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The Old Bailey heard that the fire started from either a discarded cigarette or an upturned tea light, which ignited rubbish on the floor of the living room before spreading to a sofa. The property was described as being in disarray, with the floor covered in 20cm of rubbish and human excrement.
Jurors were told that Rose, who had been heard shouting and swearing at the children earlier that day, left the house without ensuring the smoke alarm was functional. The smoke detector on the first-floor landing was found to be inoperable due to a missing battery.
Darren Woodhams, a fire investigator for the London Fire Brigade, testified that the accumulation of rubbish exacerbated the spread of the fire. He also revealed that four 999 calls were made, with the first coming from a neighbour who was alerted by a passer-by banging on their door. Firefighters arrived on the scene but were unable to save the children, who were found unconscious inside the burning property.
Despite performing CPR, the boys were declared dead shortly after being rescued. The court was shown images of the devastating aftermath inside the home, and a child’s voice was reportedly heard repeatedly saying, “There is a fire here.”
Rose, who has denied all charges, claims she left the children in the care of a woman named ‘Jade’ during her trip to Sainsbury’s. She was not present in court due to eye problems but followed the proceedings remotely.
Social services had been involved with the family but closed their case after Rose failed to cooperate. The trial, which has drawn significant attention, continues as the court hears further evidence regarding the circumstances of the fatal fire.
The tragedy has raised questions about child protection and the responsibility of parents to maintain safety measures in the home.
