A THIRD man has appeared in court accused of involvement in the fire death of schoolboy Dean Pike.

Trevor Gordon, 21, is charged with the murder of 11-year-old Dean, who died in an alleged arson attack at the home he shared with his mother, Janine Dodds, on the Deerness Estate, in Hendon, Sunderland, in the early hours of June 24.

He is also accused of the attempted murder of 29-year-old Ms Dodds, who jumped to safety from a first-floor window of the blazing house, in Mordey Close, before trying in vain to get back into the house to rescue Dean.

Mr Gordon, of Redmond Road, Red House, Sunderland, was remanded in custody by the city's magistrates yesterday and will appear before Newcastle Crown Court for a preliminary hearing next Friday.

Two other men, Tarry Majniusz, 40, of North Bridge Street, and Neil English, 42, of Chester Road, both Sunderland, are also charged with Dean's murder and attempted murder of Ms Dodds.

They will next appear at Newcastle Crown Court on September 27, prior to a provisional trial date of December 12.

Ms Dodds, who is expecting a second child, spent two days in intensive care in Newcastle General Hospital following the fire and is still recovering from her injuries.

She led mourners at Dean's funeral at a packed St Peter's Church, in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, last week.