Image copyright PA Image caption The shop and flat above were both destroyed in the blast

Three men accused of causing an explosion which gutted a shop in Leicester, killing five people, have denied arson and manslaughter. We miss her terribly.”

The explosion on February 25, which was followed by a fire, destroyed the Zabka store and the flat above, where Shane Ragoobeer and his brother Sean were living. Image copyright Leicestershire Police Image caption Mary Ragoobar lived in a flat above the shop with her sons Sean and Shane

Mary Ragoobar, 46, and her sons, Shane Ragoobeer, 18, and Sean Ragoobeer, 17, who lived in the flat above the shop, died alongside Shane's girlfriend Leah Reek, 18

Mr Ali's partner, 22-year-old shop worker Viktorija Ijevleva, also died in the explosion. Image caption Store owner Aram Kurd is among the three men charged with arson and manslaughter

The defendants are:

Aram Kurd, 33, of Hillary Place, Leicester

Hawkar Hassan, 32, of no fixed address

Arkan Ali, 37, of Drake Close, Oldham

They each face five counts of manslaughter and one count of arson with intent or being reckless as to whether life was endangered. During a 50-minute hearing, Kurd, 33, who was wearing a grey jumper, and Hassan, 32, and 37-year-old Ali, wearing blue jumpers, only spoke to confirm their names and to deny all seven alleged offences. Appearing at Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday via video-link from HMP Woodhill, the three men were told their trial is likely to be heard under a High Court Judge. We miss her terribly.”

Jose Ragoobeer, paying tribute to his wife and two sons after the incident, said: “Our lives will never be the same. The fatal blast happened at a shop in Hinckley Road, Leicester, and left five people dead. Every day they will all be missed.”

Ms Reek’s family said: “Our whole family’s heart is breaking because we have lost our beautiful, bubbly baby girl. We will always miss her cheeky smile and will miss her every day for the rest of our lives.”

Four other men were also arrested in connection with the incident and released under investigation. We miss her terribly.”

Ali, of Drake Close, Oldham, Hassan, of no fixed abode, and Kurd, of Hillary Place, Leicester, were remanded into custody by Judge Philip Head until a further hearing on 31 August at the same court.
Three men plead not guilty to arson and manslaughter in connection to the deaths of five people in an explosion at a shop in Leicester, England.