The jury has been sent out in the Dean Pike murder trial.
A judge told the jurors in the trial of three men accused of murdering the schoolboy to put emotions aside when they considered their verdict.
Judge John Milford today finished summing up the case against Terry Majinusz, Neil English and Trevor Gordon who all face charges relating to the death of the 11-year-old in a blaze at his home in the early hours of June 24 last year.
Dean's pregnant mum Janine Dodd was seriously injured when she was blown from an upstairs window as fire engulfed their home in Mordey Close, Hendon, Sunderland.
Judge Milford told the panel of 12 men and women: "Put all the human emotions which a case such as this involving the death of a child will naturally generate in you and consider the evidence in the case dispassionately."
English, 43, of Chester Road, Sunderland, Majinusz, 40, of Chester Road, Sunderland, and Gordon, 22, of Redmond Road, Sunderland, all deny murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent to endanger life.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article