Overview
- On July 15, 2025 a fire at a house on South John Street in St Helens killed Eric Greener, 77, and Sheila Jackson, 83, in an attack later tied to a drugs dispute.
- An inquest on July 29, 2026 concluded that Paul Joseph Smith died from mixed drug toxicity after taking heroin, a substantial amount of cocaine and sedatives that caused respiratory failure.
- Home Office pathologist Dr Matthew Lyall reported water in Smith's lungs but said the heavy drug levels made it nearly impossible to prove or disprove drowning and that third-party submersion could not be entirely excluded.
- Merseyside Police launched a murder inquiry after Smith's body was found in a wheelie bin behind derelict buildings on July 22, 2025 but the force has now closed the murder probe while legal action continues over the removal and disposal of the body.
- Separate criminal proceedings resulted in manslaughter convictions this year for Kevin Weetman, Kylie Maynard and Lee Owens and significant prison terms for those involved, leaving victims' families still seeking answers about motive and accountability.