Three people jailed for killing elderly couple who died in fire at their home

Three people have been jailed for killing an elderly couple who died in a fire at their home that had been started deliberately.

Paul Smith, then 40, and Lee Owens, 46, of no fixed abode, set fire to a house on South John Street, in St Helens, around midnight on 15 July 2025.

Sheila Jackson, 83, and Eric Greener, 77, were trapped inside the house at the time the fire was started.

Smith and Owens were acting on orders given by Liverpool-based drug dealer Kevin Weetman, 34, of Croxteth Drive, Sefton Park, Liverpool, and Kylie Maynard, 47, of Rydal Street in the Everton area of Liverpool, who was working for him.

Firefighters and paramedics rescued Sheila and Eric from the blaze, but they both died a few days later from their injuries.

The arson was carried out in revenge for Sheila’s son refusing to sell drugs for Weetman.

On the night of the fire, Smith and Owens travelled from Liverpool to St Helens on a motorbike. They had petrol with them to start the blaze.

CCTV evidence showing Smith and Owens travelling to and from the scene of the fire, phone calls between Weetman, Smith, Owens and Maynard before and after the blaze along with witness accounts led the police to them.

Merseyside Police launched a murder investigation when the fire report showed that the blaze had been started deliberately.

Paul Smith confessed his part in the arson attack to a friend a couple of days later. He was found dead on 22 July 2025.

Maynard, Owens and Weetman were arrested and questioned. All denied their part in the events leading up to the arson and the deaths of Sheila Jackson and Eric Greener.

They were all charged with murder and the case went to trial. On 17 January 2026, a jury at Liverpool Crown Court found them not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.

Today, 19 February 2026, at Liverpool Crown Court:

• Kevin Weetman was jailed for life for two counts of manslaughter and must serve a minimum of 25 years before he can be considered for release. He was also given a concurrent jail term of 16 years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs
• Kylie Maynard was jailed for 23 years for two counts of manslaughter. She was also given a concurrent jail term of eight years for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs
• Lee Owens was jailed for 13 years and six months for two counts of manslaughter.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Mairead Neeson, of CPS Mersey-Cheshire’s Complex Casework Unit, said: “This has been an extremely complex and tragic case.

“Sheila Jackson and Eric Greener had no involvement with the police and had lived in the house in South John Street, quietly, for many years.

“Kevin Weetman set in course the events that led to their deaths to exert his power as a drug dealer and punish Ms Jackson’s son for not agreeing to work for him.

“Paul Smith, Lee Owens and Kylie Maynard were working for Weetman and played their parts in the arson and the subsequent deaths of the couple.

“Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Sheila Jackson and Eric Greener.”