Prosecutors say Melanie Smith had threatened to burn down a woman's home before allegedly starting an apartment fire that left two adults and three young children dead.Prosecutors in Wales say a woman accused of starting an apartment fire that killed five people, including three young children, was "driven by a desire for revenge."
Melanie Smith, 43, allegedly set a baby stroller on fire in a shared hallway in an apartment building in Prestatyn last October, the BBC reported. She was reportedly upset that the stroller was regularly left in the hallway.
Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, her 23-year-old partner Liam Timbrell, her 15-month-old son Charlie, her 4-year-old nephew Bailey and her 2-year-old niece Skye all died after the blaze spread into their apartment.
Prosecutor Ian Murphy said Smith had previously threatened to burn down the home of another woman, whom she believed was having an affair with her boyfriend. Smith denied making those threats and said 21 witnesses were lying, according to the BBC.
But Murphy said there is "clear and compelling evidence" that Smith started the fire in Prestatyn.