A woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the manslaughter of her four sons, who died in a house fire while she was shopping.
Deveca Rose, aged 30, had left her two pairs of twins unsupervised when a blaze engulfed their terraced home in Sutton, southwest London, on December 16, 2021.
The four-year-old twins, Kyson and Bryson Hoath, along with their three-year-old counterparts, Leyton and Logan Hoath, were unable to escape the locked residence and perished beneath a bed.
After a trial at the Old Bailey last autumn, Rose was found guilty of four counts of manslaughter, although she was acquitted of one charge of child cruelty.
The trial revealed that the family lived in a home filled with “debris all over the floor and human waste.”
An investigation into the fire determined that it was likely ignited by either a discarded cigarette or a tipped-over tealight, with the spread of flames exacerbated by the clutter on the floor.
During sentencing, Judge Mark Lucraft KC noted that none of the purchases Rose made that day were “essential or vital.”
The judge described the situation as “deeply tragic,” with the lives of four young children lost in a matter of moments to a fierce fire. He mentioned that he took into account Rose’s deteriorating eyesight, which has left her unable to recognize her children in photographs or videos.
“You must live with the awareness that you are responsible for the deaths of your four children,” Judge Lucraft stated.
At the sentencing hearing, Rose was seen sitting in the dock with her hood pulled over her head and wearing headphones, which her defense attorney claimed was for medical reasons.
The court heard emotional statements from family members detailing the profound impact of this tragedy.
In a statement presented on his behalf, their father, Dalton Hoath, expressed that it was the “worst day of his life” when he lost his four “beautiful boys.”
“Their lives had only just begun,” he lamented. “It was every parent’s nightmare – I am heartbroken.”
The children’s great-grandmother, Sally Johnson, spoke tearfully in court, revealing that “they were my life. I now feel so empty.” She found some solace in the belief that “they are now all together forever and will never be alone again.”
Ms. Johnson concluded her statement with a heartfelt plea, echoing their favorite word, “Why? Just why?”.
The boys’ step-grandmother, Kerrie Hoath, stated that they had been “cruelly taken away from us” by their mother, describing them as “loving, beautiful children” who deserved better. “The impact they have had on our lives in their short time cannot be measured and will never be forgotten. We miss them every day and will always cherish them in our hearts. Although better days may come, the void left by their deaths is irreplaceable.”
During the trial, Rose had claimed that someone named “Jade” was with the children when she left, but Judge Lucraft clarified, “The reality is that you left four boys aged four or younger on their own.”
In her defense, Laurie-Anne Power KC argued that Rose had “sought assistance, but it was not provided.”
She emphasized that Rose’s children were “loved and cherished” and that she cared for them independently, despite facing significant “complex psychiatric mental health needs,” as deemed by specialists. “She should not face further punishment for the falsehoods she has told,” Ms. Power argued. “She may have experienced the greatest loss of all.”
Even though Rose’s mental health played a role in her actions, the judge determined that it did not substantially diminish her responsibility.
The defense pointed out that there were “missed opportunities” to remove the children as conditions in their home worsened.
During the pandemic, with limited outside support, Rose had visited her GP and reported that she was unable to cope.
The jury’s decision to acquit her of child cruelty indicated they believed she “was doing her best,” the defense claimed.
The court previously heard that when a cigarette or tealight ignited the fire in the living room, the boys were trapped, calling for help as they fled upstairs.
A neighbor attempted to break down the front door until firefighters, equipped with breathing apparatus, entered and found the children’s bodies beneath their beds.
The boys were transported to a hospital where they were pronounced dead. Their cause of death was later determined to be “inhalation of fire fumes.”
Judge Lucraft acknowledged that the firefighters who responded to the scene were also affected by the children’s tragic deaths.
Charlie Pugsley, Deputy Commissioner for Fire Safety with London Fire Brigade, reflected on the incident as “truly tragic” and emphasized ongoing support for the firefighters involved. “I want to commend the remarkable bravery of those who first arrived on the scene and did everything in their power to save the children,” he remarked. “This fire will be remembered as an exceptionally challenging incident with a lasting impact on all involved.”
