Man denies murdering 7-year-old girl and her aunt in Grangetown house fire
A 23-year-old man has denied murdering a seven-year-old girl and her aunt in a house fire near Middlesbrough.
Valentina Foster and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, were killed in a blaze in Grangetown on 26 August, while two adults and two teenagers were injured.
Jaden Wright pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder at Teesside Crown Court when he appeared by video link from prison on Wednesday.
Wright also denied two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.
The defendant also pleaded not guilty to causing a woman grievous bodily harm and intentional strangulation, relating to an alleged incident on 25 August.
Wright sat behind a desk at prison for the 10-minute hearing, wearing a grey sweatshirt.
He was told he will go on trial on 19 April.
Wright was remanded in custody by Judge Francis Laird KC ahead of a further hearing on 18 December.
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