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Four Charged Over North Shields House Fire That Killed Teen, Crown Court Hearing Set

Prosecutors say alleged electricity abstraction is intrinsically linked to the fatal blaze.

Overview

  • Danielle Johnson, 43, and her son Louis Casson, 19, are charged with manslaughter along with counts of abstracting electricity without authority.
  • Craig Watson, 42, faces manslaughter and two electricity-abstraction charges, while Calvin Smith, 37, is charged only with abstracting electricity.
  • All four appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court, spoke to confirm details, and were granted unconditional bail to attend Newcastle Crown Court on February 10.
  • No pleas were taken at the magistrates' hearing as the linked cases were committed to the crown court for the next stage.
  • The charges specify alleged abstraction on August 11 to November 21, 2022, November 27, 2022 to January 16, 2023, and on January 16, 2023, the day 18-year-old Leah Casson died after emergency services were called around 3:30am.