A 23-year-old defendant has entered not guilty pleas to charges of murdering a woman and her young niece who died in a house fire in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough.
Natalie McDonald, aged 34, and her niece Valentina Foster, aged seven, were killed in the blaze that broke out in the early hours of 26 August. Six people were present in the property at the time of the fire, with two adults and two teenagers sustaining injuries.
Jaden Wright appeared before Teesside Crown Court via video link on 18 December and denied both murder charges. He also entered not guilty pleas to four counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, all relating to the other occupants of the house during the fire.
In addition to the fire-related charges, Wright denied causing grievous bodily harm to a woman and intentional strangulation in connection with an alleged incident that occurred on 25 August, the day before the fire.
Wright, who has no fixed address, was remanded in custody following his court appearance. He is scheduled to return to Teesside Crown Court for a further hearing, with trial proceedings set to begin on 19 April.
