Man arrested for murder over Middlesbrough house fire appears in court

A man who was arrested on suspicion of murder over a house fire which killed a seven-year-old girl and her aunt has appeared in court charged other alleged offences.

Jaden Wright, 23, of Middlesbrough, appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Saturday accused of grievous bodily harm and intentional strangulation.

The court heard how Wright was arrested on suspicion of murder earlier this week in relation to the house fire in the Grangetown area of Teesside on Wednesday.

Natalie McDonald, 34, and her niece, Valentina Foster died in the blaze.

Wright was subsequently charged with the GBH and strangulation offences which relates to an alleged incident in Grange Farm Road on August 25, the court heard.

Prosecutors said the complainant in this case was living in a tent when she was allegedly attacked by the defendant.

She was taken to hospital where it was found she had injuries including a fractured eye socket.

Magistrates agreed to an application for Wright, of King George’s Terrace, to be remanded into police custody.

Dressed in a grey T-shirt, Wright sat in the glass-fronted dock for the 30-minute hearing next to a single security officer.

Four other people were injured in the house blaze and Cleveland Police said after the incident that they had arrested two men, aged 23 and 31, on suspicion of murder.

On Friday, police said the house remains unstable and work will be carried out on the building over the coming days to make the site safe, which will also allow emergency services safe access.

They said a 48-year-old woman remains in the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle in a “critical but stable” condition and a 27-year-old man remains at James Cook University Hospital where he is receiving treatment.

Two teenage girls suffered non life-threatening injuries and have been discharged from hospital following treatment, the force said.

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies