On another occasion windows were broken at the Bolland home and in the fight that followed, Courtney Brierley was injured. Demi, Lacie and Brandon would die there on the pavement. Lia clung to life for two days, before losing the fight in hospital. It was an appalling tragedy, devastating the close-knit community of Walkden, the city of Salford, and people across Greater Manchester and beyond. Now Zak Bolland, his then-girlfriend Courtney Brierley, 20, and accomplice David Worrall, 25, have been brought to justice for the killings.

Zak Bolland, 26, David Worrall, 29, and Courtney Brierley, 23, appeared at Manchester Crown Court this morning (April 21) Bolland and Worrall were each handed four life sentences, with the former told he would serve a minimum term of 40 years and the latter serving a minimum of 37. They told the programme that Ms Pearson had come to terms with the devastating news, and they expressed fears she would not survive.They were planning it. They knew who they were targeting and they knew what they were going to do,” she would later tell police, who regarded her as a brave witness who had come forward and done the right thing.

Whilst the police were there, Zak Bolland and Courtney Brierley went past the house in a car being driven by Abigail Toone. Any sentence I pass would undoubtedly be inadequate if it was not being added to the extremely long sentences already being served. There is no formula by which such a sentence can be calculated. A son whose mother and four siblings tragically died in a house fire caused by petrol bombs had tried in vain to save his family, a court heard. Michelle was such a fighter and it was her strength and the support of her family which got her through all the months since the fire."

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He claims it was his co-defendant's idea to petrol bomb the house, and he thought no-one was home at the time. I do not accept the submissions that the recent convictions for murder should not alter the minimum terms. The loss of a life must be marked. He organised the trip to the petrol station to buy the petrol; he was the leading light in the making of the petrol bombs; he threw the larger petrol bomb into the house when the first one failed properly to ignite. David Worrall (left), Zak Bolland (middle) and Courtney Brierley (right) at an off-licence hours before the fire

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham responded to her tweet, writing: "Devastating news Barbara. Love to Michelle’s family, friends & the whole community." Both Bolland and Worrall were convicted of the attempted murder of Pearson and Greater Manchester police (GMP) said they would be reviewing the investigation and consulting with the Crown Prosecution Service in light of her death.That is clear from the fact that he was convicted of attempting to cause really serious harm rather than attempted murder in relation to those who survived.