Neighbour in court charged with flat fire murders of mother and children

Jamie Barrow was remanded in custody until Monday charged with killing Fatoumatta Hydara and her daughters Naeemah and Fatimah, aged one and three

Fatoumatta Hydara with her children Naeemah Drammeh, aged one, and Fatimah Drammeh, aged three (Family handout/PA) (PA Media)

A neighbour of a mother and two young children who died after a house fire has appeared in court charged with three counts of murder.

Jamie Barrow, 31, from Clifton, Nottingham, was remanded in custody until Monday after making a two-minute appearance at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Barrow, of Fairisle Close, is accused of the murdering Fatoumatta Hydara, 28, and her daughters Fatimah Drammeh, three, and Naeemah Drammeh, one.

All three victims died from smoke inhalation following a severe blaze at their first-floor flat in Fairisle Close in the early hours of Sunday.

Their alleged killer appeared in the dock wearing a plain grey long-sleeved top and jogging bottoms, and spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

He was not handcuffed during the hearing and stood with his hands behind his back as he watched the clerk of the court read out the charges against him.

Adjourning the case, District Judge Leo Pyle told Barrow: “All three allegations you face have to be heard at the Crown Court and accordingly I am sending all three of these matters to the Nottingham Crown Court.

“There is no right for a bail application to be made before this court and accordingly I remand you in custody.”

Nottinghamshire Police charged Barrow with three counts of murder on Thursday, four days after he was arrested.

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Our thoughts remain with the family at this incredibly painful time, as well as the communities that have been affected by this most tragic of incidents.

“The grief this family has been put through is incomprehensible.

“Large teams of detectives have been working relentlessly alongside specialist search units and forensic experts to understand the full circumstances behind this deliberate fire.

“Following those inquiries, we have charged a suspect with three counts of murder. The family are aware of this development and I would like to sincerely thank them for their patience and understanding as we do everything we possibly can to gain justice for Fatoumatta, Fatimah and Naeemah.”

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Fatoumatta’s husband, Aboubacarr Drammeh, paid tribute to his loved ones and described their deaths as inconceivable.

Mr Drammeh, who flew back from the US after the fire, said: “It is with great sadness that we have lost Fatoumatta and our two daughters in such a tragic way.

“Fatoumatta had lived a short but a very beautiful and fulfilling life.

“A former voluntary worker, Fatoumatta was a very happy, bubbly woman who wouldn’t have the heart to hurt a fly.”