Understand
Firebomb threat would have led to arrest 'in an ideal world', inquest told
Overview
An inquest into the deaths of Michelle Pearson and her four children heard from a police officer that Zak Bolland should have been arrested for an earlier threat to firebomb their house, though high workloads and staff shortages prevented it. Bolland later carried out the petrol bomb attack in Walkden, Salford, in December 2017, leading to life sentences for Bolland and his accomplice.
Key points
- An inquest is examining the deaths of Michelle Pearson and her four children, who were killed in a petrol bomb attack in Walkden, Salford, in December 2017.
- PC Robert Webster told Bolton Coroner's Court that in 'an ideal world' perpetrator Zak Bolland would have been arrested following earlier threats, but police were short-staffed and busy.
- The court heard that investigations into both a window-smashing incident and subsequent text threats made by Bolland were closed by police prior to the fatal attack.
- Zak Bolland and David Worrall were previously jailed for life for the murders of the children and Michelle Pearson, who died 20 months after the attack.