Two teenagers who killed an 88-year-old grandmother when they posted a firework through her letterbox ‘for a laugh’ are facing years behind bars.
Josephine Smith died in the blaze caused by Kai Cooper, 19, and a 15-year-old boy, who had spent the night terrorising residents in Romford east London
Mrs Smith, a Blitz survivor and grandmother of seven, lived alone and was upstairs sleeping in Queens Park Road when the 15-year-old posted the firework on 28 October 2021, a week before Bonfire Night.
Cooper told the shopkeeper: ‘I want something that is going to go far and quick.’
He went on to tell his girlfriend outside: ‘Hey babes, come here. I’m trying to get fireworks, let them off at people. People are going to get terrorised tonight.’
After purchasing the fireworks, Cooper also bought two lighters from a Co-op shop, jurors heard.
He and his 17-year-old friend then walked towards Mrs Smith’s house on Queens Park Road, where she lived alone.
The prosecutor said: ‘It is a tragically random incident. That makes it no less serious or tragic.’
Before reaching Mrs Smith’s home, the two youths set off some of the fireworks in the street, next to a restaurant and a pub, near cars, and even towards frightened pedestrians, jurors were told.
Ms Stonecliffe said: ‘They acted as a team as they did this, with Kai handing [the 17-year-old] the fireworks before they were lit and Kai encouraging [the 17-year-old] to do this.
‘It was, it is suggested, the precursor for the altogether more tragic events that occurred shortly afterwards.’
A post-mortem examination gave the cause of her death as smoke inhalation.
A police enquiry led to the arrest of a 15-year-old boy and Cooper.
A firework was recovered at the scene.
Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command said: “This was a heart-breaking case concerning the needless death of an innocent lady in her own home.
“The cause of the fire was investigated and was found to have been started by the firework that was lit and posted through the letterbox by a 15-year-old boy.
“The thoughtlessness of the actions which unfolded that night are incomprehensible, and tragically resulted in the most devastating consequences. Mrs Smith’s family continue to struggle to come to terms with their loss and our thoughts remain with them, especially today.”
Mrs Smith’s son, Alan, said: “Losing Mum in such a horrible way has haunted our entire family. Mum was so loved by all of us and had many more happy years ahead of her.
“To see justice done today may hopefully help us to begin to move forward very slowly.
“The issue surrounding the sale of fireworks to the public is a fight that we intend to continue. In addition, the irresponsible way those fireworks were sold on that night haunts all of us that have seen the footage.
“The huge support we have had from the Harold Wood community has been amazing. The fire fighters that attended that night are absolute heroes – they, without doubt, risked their lives to try and save Mum.
Cooper was also charged with one count of assault by beating which relates to a separate offence on October 27, 2021 in High Road, Ilford. He had previously pleaded guilty to that offence at a separate hearing.
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