New 'significant' arrest in Francesca Bimpson murder hunt


A BREAKTHROUGH arrest was made this morning in the hunt for the killer of three-year-old Francesca Bimpson.

Police detained the 43-year-old man in South Wales on suspicion of murdering the Liverpool tot.

Today Merseyside Police described the arrest as “significant”.

The Anfield man was arrested earlier on in the inquiry.

It is six months since Francesca suffered horrendous burns in the arson attack which ripped through her home in Norwood Grove, Everton.

Petrol was poured through the letterbox as the family-of-six slept upstairs in their beds at around midnight.

Mum and dad Eleanor and Kieron managed to escape the blaze – along with children Kieron, 14, Christina, eight, and Anne Marie, 18 months.

But terrified Francesca ran back to her bed and hid under the covers.

Today dad Kieron said: “It’s been just over six months since we lost our little girl, but it feels like six minutes.

“This new arrest has been a long time coming and hopefully police will soon charge somebody.

“Eleanor is putting up lots of pictures of her around the house - it’s part of the healing process to remind us of Francesca.

“It’s been so unsettling to think that the person who killed my daughter is still out there.”

After suffering 95% burns in the blaze the little girl desperately clung on to life for three agonising weeks but died two days before Christmas.

THE ECHO

Man charged with the murder of three-year-old Francesca Bimpson at her Everton home



POLICE have charged a man with the murder of three-year-old Francesca Bimpson who died after a devastating fire at her home.

Graham Heaps, 43, of Woodside Terrace, Crumlin, in Newport, South Wales, has been charged with the murder of Francesca, the attempted murder of her family who were in the house at the time and arson with intent to endanger life.

He will appear before Liverpool City Magistrates tomorrow morning.

Francesca suffered horrific 95% burns after the blaze on Norwood Grove in Everton on December 2.

The arsonist poured petrol through the letterbox of the home as the Bimpson family-of-six slept in their beds.

Francesca's parents and their three other young children managed to escape but Francesca was left trapped despite efforts to save her.

THE ECHO

The ... is lucky the police caught him... he is walking dead!I know Phil, her uncle. Jail aint even safe for this guy!! Ive seen what the Phil can do and it isnt pretty!