My family have lived in Oxford since 1909. My great-grandfather came on a visit to the city and thought it was very beautiful. There were houses being built in Southey Road then and he bought one. He was the one who gave it its name. It is called Felix House which means `lucky' in Latin. It's because he felt lucky to live here. We are the only family who have ever lived in it. I don't think there are any other houses like that round here. My grandfather also worked in the company and my father does now. I think my older brother Philip will do it too. When I grow up I would like to go to Oxford University. That is MY dream.
Before HM Coroner Oriana Pound
Oxford Coroner's Court
County Hall, New Road, Oxford.
Inquests conducted: Wednesday 10th January 2018 11 a.m. `“ Samantha Esmond, aged 33, and Zachary Esmond, aged 3, died 04/01/2018 in Oxford; and Matthew Esmond, aged 10, died 07/01/2018 in Oxford.
Following representations from the Crown Prosecution Service, the inquest was adjourned pending further enquiries by the police. Given the possibility of criminal charges, Mrs Pound ordered a second post-mortem on the three deceased, so that the bodies can be released to the family for burial.
Telephone interview with Jason Morrell, Walton Manor Motors, Knatchbull Road, Oxford
11 January 2018, 11.50 a.m.
On the call, DC A. Asante
AA:This is DC Asante. The switchboard said you have some information for us `“ something relating to the Southey Road fire? JM:Yeah, it's about the car. If you're looking for it, it's here. At the garage. We did the MOT last week and it's been on the forecourt ever since. Had to change one of the tyres but otherwise it passed OK. It's parked out the front ready to go. AA:I see. When did Mr Esmond bring the car in? JM:Must have been Tuesday sometime. Mick booked it in `“ hold on `“
[muffled noises]
Yep `“ definitely Tuesday 2nd. About 9.15 in the morning.
AA:Did any of you speak to him after that? JM:I left a couple of messages about the tyre back end of last week. Just to say it had to be done to get the car through so to call me if there was a problem, otherwise I'd just go ahead. He didn't call back. AA:Your colleague `“ Mick `“ does he remember anything unusual about Mr Esmond that morning? Anything that struck him? JM:Blimey, now you're asking. Hold on.
[more muffled noises]
Just said he was in a hurry. A bit offhand. But they're all like that round here, mate. Par for the course.
15 July 2017, 3.12 p.m.
173 days before the fire
23 Southey Road, Oxford
Michael leans back in his deckchair and closes his eyes, the sun warm on his skin. After the barbecue and that couple of beers he doesn't feel much like working. He hadn't been relishing the prospect of Philip's visit but it's actually been a good few days. Sam was looking better than she has for weeks, and Matty's spent more time outside and less time on that bloody Xbox.
He can hear the summer hum of the lawnmower further down the garden and, closer, the shrieks and splashes of excitement from the paddling pool. Philip is teaching Matty to body surf. With pretty limited success as far as Michael can see. He opens his eyes briefly, sees Philip at the tap filling the pool again, then leans back. He must have dozed off because when he comes to he can hear his wife and Philip talking a few yards away. They're speaking low, so they must think he's asleep. He was going to open his eyes but something makes him change his mind. At first the talk is just trivial stuff. Where Philip's planning to take the boat in the autumn. How Mum is doing. Then, suddenly, the mood changes.
`Look,' he says, tentative, `you can tell me to sod off and mind my own business if you like, but is everything OK?' There's a creak in the deckchair; he must be leaning towards her.
`What makes you say that?' she says, wary.
`I don't know `“ I just get the impression you have something on your mind. You seem unhappy. To me, anyway.'
There's a silence. Sam must have gestured towards her husband because Philip says, `Don't worry, he can't hear you. All that Stella `“ he's been out for the count for the last half hour.'
Michael's grip tightens on the side of his chair, but he doesn't move. All his other senses are sharpened. The bee veering close. The dog barking in the garden next door. The smell of cut grass.
`How long's that been going on, by the way?' continues Philip. `The drinking, I mean.'
`It's not drinking as such `“'
`It is, compared to what he used to do. He barely drank at all in the old days.'
`He has a lot on his plate `“ you know that `“' She takes a deep breath. `He told you, didn't he, about the problems I've had?'
`The depression?' he says, his voice softer. `Yes, he told me. But I thought `“ well `“ after all this time `“'
`That's why I never tell anyone,' she says sadly. `They'd just assume I should have got over it by now. `њPulled myself together.`ќ That Zachary's over two and it must have gone away. But it hasn't.' There are tears in her voice now. `I'm starting to wonder if it ever will.'
`What does the doc say?'
`She has me on medication, but I hate it, Philip `“ I hate it. It's like I'm living in fog `“ I can't think straight, can't do anything. And then Michael has to look after the kids as well as doing his job and his research, and it's not fair. It's too much `“ the cooking, the school run, the house `“'
`Yeah, right,' says Philip heavily, `the bloody house.'
`So I came off them `“'
`You came off the meds `“ without telling your doctor?'
Michael stops breathing. This is the first he's heard about his wife not taking her medication.
`I was desperate `“ only not taking them was even worse.'
`I'm not surprised `“'
`No,' she says miserably, `you don't understand. That's when it started. The `“ other stuff.'
The chair creaks again. She's crying; he must have put an arm round her.
`You can tell me,' he whispers.
`I kept losing things. Putting them down and finding them later somewhere else where I'd looked already.'
`That could be anything `“ I do that `“'
`It's not just that. I started hearing things too. In the house. Like there was someone there. And last week I suddenly smelt burning but nothing was on fire `“'
`Someone's barby? It's that time of year.'
`No, like I said, it was inside the house.'
He starts saying something about the possible side effects of coming off the meds but she's crying hard now.
`Have you spoken to Mike about this?' he says gently. `Or the doctor?'