Key Points
- Three people cleared of murdering Sheila Jackson, 83, and Eric Greener, 77, who died in arson attack on their St Helens home.
- Defendants convicted of manslaughter and to be sentenced on Thursday.
- Fire targeted Ms Jackson’s son George Jackson but he was out; intended over drugs dispute.
- Kevin Weetman, Lee Owens, and Samantha Maynard involved; Paul Smith, who died, also participated.
- Trial at Liverpool Crown Court lasted weeks with jury deliberating nearly 12 hours.
St Helens (Liverpool Standard) February 17, 2026 – Three individuals have been cleared of murdering an elderly couple who died following an arson attack on their home but face sentencing for manslaughter after a jury reached verdicts at Liverpool Crown Court.
Sheila Jackson, 83, and Eric Greener, 77, suffered fatal burns and smoke inhalation in the blaze at their terraced house on South John Street in the early hours of July 15 last year. Firefighters rescued both from the burning property, but they later died in hospital. According to ITV News Granada, the intended target was Ms Jackson’s son, George Jackson, who returned to find emergency services at the scene.
What led to the arson attack on the St Helens home?
The prosecution told the jury that Kevin Weetman, 34, of Aigburth in Liverpool, orchestrated the attack to prevent a loss of “face” in the drugs world after a dispute involving George Jackson. Weetman, Lee Owens, and the late Paul Smith, 40, from Liverpool, travelled to St Helens to set the fire just after 12.30am. ITV News Granada reported that Owens and Smith started the blaze while Weetman and Samantha Maynard, 28, of Everton in Liverpool, were involved in planning.
As reported by ITV News Granada, Owens claimed he only intended to damage the house, while Weetman denied involvement in the fire, telling the jury: “I weren’t committing murders. I’m a drug dealer.” Weetman and Maynard had admitted conspiring to supply cocaine between November 2024 and September 2025.
How did the jury reach their verdicts?
A jury of six men and six women deliberated for almost 12 hours before clearing Weetman, Owens, and Maynard of murder but finding them guilty of manslaughter. Weetman smiled in the dock upon hearing the verdicts. The trial heard detailed evidence over several weeks at Liverpool Crown Court.
Who are the defendants and what charges did they face?
Kevin Weetman and Samantha Maynard were charged with murder and manslaughter alongside conspiracy to supply cocaine. Lee Owens faced similar charges related to the fire. Paul Smith, who helped start the blaze, has since died. All three surviving defendants denied direct involvement in the arson during the trial, according to ITV News Granada reporting.
What happens next in the case?
Sentencing for the manslaughter convictions is scheduled for Thursday at Liverpool Crown Court. The case highlights tensions in local drug-related disputes that led to the tragic deaths of the elderly couple.
The verdicts bring some closure to the family of Sheila Jackson and Eric Greener, though the full impact of the fire’s consequences will be addressed at the upcoming hearing, as covered by ITV News Granada.
