Skip to contentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.Join todayAlready a member? Log inDave HiggensWednesday 23 September 2026 13:06 BSTMurder probe after two die in Grangetown house fireJaden Wright, 23, has pleaded not guilty to the murders of seven-year-old Valentina Foster and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, in a house fire near Middlesbrough.Valentina and her aunt died in the blaze in Grangetown on 26 August, which also left two adults and two teenagers injured.Appearing via video link at Teesside Crown Court, Wright also denied two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.He further pleaded not guilty to causing a woman grievous bodily harm and intentional strangulation relating to an alleged incident on 25 August.Judge Francis Laird KC remanded Wright in custody ahead of a further hearing on 18 December, with the trial set to begin on 19 April.In fullMan denies murdering 7-year-old girl and her aunt in Grangetown house fireMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in