Trigger warning: Some readers may find the details of this story disturbing. Discretion is advised
A British single mother has been found guilty over the deaths of her four sons in a fire when she went shopping while leaving them at home.
Deveca Rose, 29, was convicted on Thursday (Oct 4) of manslaughter and child cruelty after her children – two sets of twins aged three and four – died despite efforts by neighbours, fire service and the police to save them.
On the fateful day of December 16, 2021, Rose left to shop at Sainsbury’s, leaving the boys Kyson, Bryson, Leyton and Logan in her Sutton, south London home that was strewn with rubbish bags and excrement.
Neighours tried to rescue the kids who screamed for help, but they could not enter the house due to smoke. Later, firefighters who entered the scene recovered the boys from under a bed where they were huggled together, but could not save their lives.
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But they could have been living
There was already suspicion that Rose, reportedly suffering from mental health issues, was not taking care of her children.
Social services personnel had tried to intervene after the dirty conditions in her house were reported to them.
But Rose did not engage with social service workers, and the case was dropped. If the authorities had intervened more forcefully, the kids could have been living now.
At the Old Bailey court hearing, Rose said she was frustrated as the kids were opening the rubbish bags. Shopping, it appears, was her way of escape.
She initially told investigators that the kids were left with a babysitter. Prosecutors argued that the babysitter could not be located and probably doesn’t exist, as CCTV footage did not show any such person.
Prosecutor Kate Lumsdon said that while Rose may be grieving the loss of her children, that doesn’t absolve her of the responsibility for their deaths.
Rose, who cried in the court and denied the charges, will be sentenced in November.
(With inputs from agencies)