Michael Philpott The Englishman who mistakenly killed his children Country: Great Britain

Biography of Michael Philpott

Michael Philpott was an Englishman who gained notoriety after the tragic deaths of his children. Born in England, Philpott was known for his lack of steady employment and his preference for spending time with friends playing billiards or smoking marijuana. His spouse, Mairead Philpott, worked as a cleaner and gave birth to six children by the age of 31. In addition to Mairead, Michael also lived with his mistress, Lisa Willis, who also worked as a cleaner and had four children by the age of 28. Despite having a total of ten children, Michael did not actively participate in domestic responsibilities.

Michael's only household duties consisted of taking the children to school and driving his wife and mistress to work. The rest of his time was spent searching for marijuana and socializing with friends. In 2007, Michael officially complained that their home was too small and demanded a larger living space, but his request was denied by the authorities. He also failed to gain support from the public.

In 2012, Lisa Willis decided she could no longer tolerate Michael's mistreatment and ran away with her children. This move significantly affected Michael's income since he was relying on the benefits he received for his children. Although Michael had the option to pursue legal action to regain custody of his children, his reputation as an unreliable father worked against him. Determined to take matters into his own hands, Michael resorted to spreading rumors that his mistress threatened to burn down their home.

On May 11, 2012, Michael and Mairead were able to escape from their burning house, but their children remained trapped upstairs and succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning in their sleep. Despite attempts by neighbors and firefighters to save them, four boys and one girl lost their lives. Another boy was rescued but tragically died three days later. The investigation revealed traces of gasoline in the hallway and on the clothing of Michael, Mairead, and their friend Paul Mosley.

Currently, Michael and Mairead face charges of manslaughter due to their alleged involvement in the fire. It is believed that they planned to rescue their children with the help of Mosley, who was supposed to break down the back door. However, the fire escalated beyond their expectations. Both Michael and Mosley deny any wrongdoing, but it is unlikely that they will be able to convince the jury of their innocence.