Three Men Found Guilty of Murdering Two Teenagers and a Baby in Langley Mill Flat Fire

Three men have been found guilty of the murder of two teenagers and a baby by setting a fire at a flat in Langley Mill.

Peter Eyre (44) and his sons Anthony Eyre (22) and Simon Eyre (24) have today been found guilty at Nottingham Crown Court following a month-long trial.

Amy Smith (17), her six-month-old daughter Ruby-Grace Gaunt, and friend Edward Green (17), from Belper, all died when a fire broke out at the flat where Amy and her child lived in North Street, Langley Mill, in the early hours of Sunday, June 21 2015.

Amy’s partner, Shaun Gaunt and his friend, Joshua Holt, were rescued from the flat.

The court heard that the fire was started at the door of the building after the Eyres got into an argument with Mr Gaunt about his stolen moped, which he alleged had been taken by another one of Peter Eyre’s sons.

Petrol was poured outside the front door, on the door and onto Edward’s car, which was parked on the drive outside.

Once police and firefighters had established the blaze was deliberate, officers began checking local CCTV cameras and found footage of the Eyres driving to Langley Mill prior to the fatal fire.

The prosecution case was that Peter Eyre remained in the car while his sons set the fire.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Kate Meynell, said: “This investigation has always been about getting justice for Amy, Ruby-Grace, Edward and their families.

“What started as a dispute over a stolen moped very quickly escalated to the tragic events of that night in June. It was a foolish revenge attack gone terribly wrong.

“Amy’s partner, Shaun, had accused one of Peter Eyre’s sons of stealing his moped so Eyre and his older sons, Anthony and Simon, sought revenge against him.

“Nothing can bring Amy, Ed, and Ruby-Grace back but I hope these guilty verdicts will bring some sort of closure for their loved ones.”

 

Sentencing will take place tomorrow.