Flat fire: Fourth man arrested on suspicion of murder

A fourth man has been arrested over a fatal flat fire in Derbyshire which killed three people, including a mother and her baby daughter.

Derbyshire Police said officers had arrested a 24-year-old at an address in Long Eaton on suspicion of murder.

Three men were already being questioned by detectives after 17-year-old Amy Smith and her six-month-old daughter Ruby-Grace Gaunt died in the blaze in Langley Mill, Derbyshire, early on Sunday.

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Langley Mill Fire: Three men remanded into custody

The three men who appeared in court Credit: Court Artist / Priscilla Coleman

Three men have appeared in court after they were charged with the murder of three people who died in a flat fire in Derbyshire.

All three defendants have appeared before a district judge at Chesterfield Magistrates Court and were remanded into custody.

They will next appear at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday.

Fire investigation officers continue to work with Derbyshire Police after Langley Mill blaze

Specialist fire investigation officers continue to work with Derbyshire Police with a hope of finding the cause of the tragic event that took place on North Street Langley Mill, on Sunday 21 June 2015.

The fire on NorthStreet, Langley Mill, in which Amy Smith, her daughter Ruby-Grace and friend Edward Green tragically lost their lives has had a huge impact on the fire and rescue service.

“The fire service works tirelessly to ensure the safety of everyone in the community and for firefighters who worked in exceptionally difficult conditions to try and rescue the deceased, it is extremely difficult to accept this tragic loss of life. The thoughts of everyone within the fire and rescue service are with both families at this sad time.

“Specialist fire investigation officers will continue to work with Derbyshire police to ensure that a thorough and robust investigation takes place to ascertain the actual cause of the fire.”

– Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Gavin Tomlinson

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Flat fire: Fourth man arrested on suspicion of murder

A fourth man has been arrested over a fatal flat fire in Derbyshire which killed three people, including a mother and her baby daughter.

Derbyshire Police said officers had arrested a 24-year-old at an address in Long Eaton on suspicion of murder.

Three men were already being questioned by detectives after 17-year-old Amy Smith and her six-month-old daughter Ruby-Grace Gaunt died in the blaze in Langley Mill, Derbyshire, early on Sunday.

Ms Smith's friend Edward Green, 17, was also killed in the fire.

The baby's father, Shaun Gaunt, and two other people are also thought to have been caught up in the blaze.

A force spokesman said it had been granted an extension by magistrates for more time to question the three men all of whom were arrested on suspicion of murder.

A 17-year-old from Long Eaton, and two others aged 43 and 21, and from Sandiacre, were taken into custody late on Monday night.

The cause of the fire, first reported in the early hours of Sunday, remains unknown and investigations are continuing.

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Three men arrested 'known to fatal flat fire mum'

Three men arrested on suspicion of murder after a fatal flat fire killed a mother, her baby and a family friend in Derbyshire, were known to at least one of the victims, ITV News understands.

The arrests come after neighbours reported disturbances in the street the day before the blaze which killed Amy Smith, 17, her six-month-old daughter Ruby-Grace Gaunt, and Edward Green, also 17, in Langley Mill.

Police have confirmed a 17-year-old youth rescued from the blaze by neighbours, along with the baby's 18-year-old father Shaun Gaunt, was not among those arrested.

A 17-year-old youth from Long Eaton has been arrested on suspicion of murder along with a 43-year-old and a 21-year-old from Sandiacre. Two of the men are understood to be related to each other.

Police and fire crews are continuing to investigate whether the fire was started deliberately.

Fatal house fire: Three arrested on suspicion of murder

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a young mother, her baby daughter and a family friend died in a house fire in Derbyshire.

Three people died in the house fire in Langley Mill on Sunday Credit: ITV News

The trio who died in the blaze on North Street in Langley Mill on Sunday have been named as 17-year-old Amy Smith, her six-month-old daughter Ruby-Grace Gaunt, and 17-year-old friend Ed Green.

A 17-year-old from Long Eaton and a 21-year-old and 43-year-old from Sandiacre were all arrested late last night on suspicion of murder, Derbyshire Police said.

The three men remain in custody and are being questioned.

The cause of the fire is still unknown and the possibility that it was started deliberately is just one of many lines of inquiry we are pursuing at this time.

These arrests do not mark the end of the investigation, far from it. I would still urge anyone with information to come forward and speak to us.

– Assistant Chief Constable Martyn Bates
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