Two men guilty of murder after boy, 4, and mum, 34, killed in arson attack on family home
TWO men have been found guilty of murder after a four-year-old boy and his mum died in an arson attack on their family home.
Andrew Milne and Jacob Barnard torched the house with a petrol can and cigarette lighter, killing Gina Ingles, 34, and her son Milo Ingles-Bailey inside.
Gina Ingles, 34, with her son Milo Ingles-Bailey and partner Toby Jarrett[/caption]Her partner Toby Jarrett escaped through a window with severe burns and other serious injuries.
The blaze happened in Croxden Way in Eastbourne, East Sussex, on July 10, 2018.
Milne, 42, and Barnard, 32, were convicted of murder and attempted murder at Lewes Crown Court.
Another man, John Tabakis, was found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
All three are due to be sentenced on Friday, the BBC reports.
Fire investigators concluded the blaze had been started deliberately close to the front door, with a lighter and petrol can found outside the house.
The court heard how DNA matching Barnard was found on the lighter while DNA matching Milne was found on the petrol can.
Gina Ingles was described by her family as ‘a kind and free-spirited person’[/caption]CCTV showed the pair walking away from the scene just before 1am.
A short time later, Mr Jarrett woke to find the house filled with smoke.
Ms Ingles rushed to get Milo from another room while Mr Jarrett plunged from the bedroom window.
Ms Ingles and Milo’s remains, as well as the body of a dog, were found in her bedroom several days later.
Phone records showed Mile and Barnard had spoken the day before the blaze, while Barnard had also called Tabakis.
The prosecution said a Mercedes linked to Barnard was driven to Eastbourne before the fire, and left the town shortly afterwards travelling towards Hastings.
Tabakis then took the same car on a ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe, and then on to Portugal to get rid of it.
The jury heard Banard told Tabakis to “get the vehicle out of the country as quickly as possible as it it had been involved in some criminal activity”, The Argus reports.
The family’s home in Eastbourne, East Sussex, filled with smoke[/caption]Milne worked as a debt collector for drug dealer Barnard, who wanted to send a message his customers, the court heard.
Kate Lumsdon QC, prosecuting, said Mr Jarrett owed his dealer John Sanders £400, who in turn owed £1,800 to “top man” Barnard, who ran the drugs operation from Portugal.
Ms Lumsdon said: “It was a particular drug debt and the general message sent out to the wider drug community – don’t mess with this drug line.”
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After their tragic deaths, the family of Ms Ingles and Milo paid tribute to their “shining lights”.
They described Milo as “a beautiful little boy so full of fun and smiles” and Ms Ingles as “a kind and free-spirited person with a big heart”.