A different kind of grief

As the parents of the triplets killed in the dreadful fire in Doha on Tuesday grieve, there's a different kind of grief surrounding British parents Mick and Mairead Philpott; Sky News UK reports:

The parents of six children killed in an arson attack on their home in Derby have been charged with murder.

Derbyshire Police had arrested Mick Philpott, 55, and his wife Mairead, 31, on suspicion of murder on Tuesday.

The pair will appear before Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court on Thursday morning.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: "The evidence was reviewed by a Crown Advocate from the CPS East Midlands complex casework unit, who decided that there was sufficient evidence to charge and that it is in the public interest for a prosecution to take place.

"It is important to note that the defendants are entitled to a fair trial and nothing should be said or reported that would prejudice that right."

Duwayne Philpott, 13, Jade Philpott, 10, and brothers John Philpott, nine, Jack Philpott, seven, Jessie Philpott, six, and Jayden Philpott, five, all died as a result of the fire.

The fire broke out at the house, in Victory Road, Allenton, in the early hours of May 11.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cotterill said: "Following the appeal yesterday a number of people have come forward with more information but I want to stress that the two charges this evening should not be seen as the end of the investigation.

"We are determined to get to the truth of what happened and still want people to speak to us to tell us what they know about this tragedy."

We heard about this awful loss of life a few weeks ago. But the arrest this week of the parents of the six children is something of a bombshell.

Obviously, the Philpotts are entitled to be considered innocent until proven guilty, but we assume that the Derbyshire Police have some pretty strong evidence against them. But the enormity of this alleged crime is almost unfathomable. We'll follow its progress with a mixture of interest and disbelief.