Date set for aunt and niece fire murder trial

A man charged with murdering a woman and her seven-year-old niece in a house fire will go on trial next year.

Natalie McDonald, 34, and Valentina Foster died in the blaze in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, in the early hours of 26 August.

Jaden Wright, 23, appeared via video link at Teesside Crown Court charged with two counts of murder as well as four other charges linked to the fire. A judge set a date of 14 April 2027 for any trial to begin.

Wright was remanded in custody and will next appear at the same court on 23 September for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

He did not enter pleas at Thursday's 10-minute hearing where, in addition to the murder charges, he was accused of two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and two of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

These charges relate to people who were in the house at the time of the blaze.

Richard Wright KC, prosecuting, said a trial was expected to last three weeks.

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