Father And Sons Jailed For Arson Murders

The trio set a fire in Derbyshire that killed two teenagers and a baby in what a judge called a "truly terrifying" crime.

15:25, UK,Friday 12 February 2016

Peter Eyre was described as the driver behind the attack

• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook
• Share on Google+
• Share by email

A father and his two sons have been jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering two teenagers and a six-month-old baby in a flat fire.

Peter Eyre, 44, and sons Anthony, 22, and Simon, 24, will serve a minimum of 81 years between them.

The fire, at Langley Mill in Derbyshire, was started in revenge after a dispute over a stolen moped.

The judge at Nottingham Crown Court told the men they had carried out a "truly terrifying" crime in which the victims died "in the most dreadful circumstances".

Mrs Justice Carr QC said: "I am sure, on the jury's verdict and evidence in court, your intention was to kill."

Amy Smith died along with her daughter and friend Edward Green

Amy Smith, 17, died in the blaze along with her baby daughter, Ruby-Grace Gaunt, and her friend Edward Green, who was also 17.

Her partner and the baby's father, 18-year-old Shaun Gaunt, and another man were rescued from the flat.

Mr Gaunt had been the target following a dispute with the Eyres over a stolen moped.

Peter Eyre had waited in a car while his sons poured petrol against the flat's only exit on 21 June last year. CCTV had shown the three men driving to the property.

Mr Eyre - who was described in court as controlling - will serve a minimum of 32 years.

The judge told him: "I am satisfied you were, as has been said already, the driver behind the events of that night both literally and metaphorically."

She said he had tried to bully his way out of criminal responsibility, seeking to blame his sons. 

Anthony and Simon Eyre will serve a minimum of 23 and 26 years respectively.

Simon Eyre's representative, Peter Joyce, asked the judge to take account of Peter Eyre's powerful influence over his sons.

But Mrs Justice Carr told Simon Eyre: "You … had the opportunity not to engage in or participate in the plan as you did."

Addressing Anthony Eyre - who had admitted manslaughter before the trial - she said: "You, unlike them, chose to tell the truth as to your criminal involvement, at least in part."

There was no reaction from the three men as they were sentenced.

Amy Smith's mother, Melanie Hawkins, said afterwards their sentences were "nothing compared to what our girls will have suffered that morning", adding: "We are the ones living the life-long sentence, not them."