A three-year-old girl killed in a calculated arson attack was targeted by her aunt’s ex-boyfriend, Liverpool Crown Court has heard.
Tragic Francesca Bimpson died three weeks after the blaze at her family home, which she shared with her parents and three siblings.
Graham Heaps, 43, is accused of murdering Francesca after setting alight to petrol poured through the letterbox.
Liverpool Crown Court heard how Heaps had ended a relationship with Linda Skelhorne, Francesca’s mum Eleanor’s sister, and lived on the same estate as the family.
Brian Cummings QC, prosecuting, said break-up between Mr Heaps and Miss Skelhorne had been difficult and Heaps had harboured feelings of bitterness.
Heaps had allegedly stolen Miss Skelhorne’s mobile phone, keeping the SIM card, which he used to send inappropriate messages.
The court heard how Heaps forwarded one message to Linda, which stated: “I gave you all of me and you treated me like a ****.
“You have no idea how much I love you.”
The jury heard how Heaps was found lying face down in the front garden of the Bimpson home on the night of the fire.
He had suffered burns to his face and arms, which the prosecution say, was caused by the flashback of him pouring petrol through the letterbox.
Mr Cummings told the court how the defendant decided to run into the burning house after committing the crime, to cover his tracks, and insist he was trying to rescue the Bimpsons from the blaze.
Heaps, of Woodside Terrace, Crumlin, denies both charges. Two counts of murder, or an alternative charge of manslaughter.
On December 1, 2008 Francesca was badly burned while her parents, brother Kieron,14, and sisters Christina, eight, Anne Marie, 17 months, suffered more minor injuries.
They managed to escape through first floor windows after the alarm was raised but despite efforts to save her by her father and uncle, Francesca remained trapped in a bedroom.
Rescue services eventually managed to get her out of the window and took her to hospital were doctors battled to save her life until she died on 23rd December.
The trial was adjourned until Tuesday.
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