A 23-year-old man has been charged with murder after a house fire in Grangetown, Teesside, resulted in the deaths of a seven-year-old girl and her aunt, police confirmed.
Officers were called to reports of a blaze at Birchington Avenue at 5.23am on August 26. Natalie McDonald, 34, and her niece Valentina Foster both died, while four others sustained injuries.
Cleveland police stated on Tuesday that the man has been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent. He is scheduled to appear at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
A 31-year-old man previously arrested in connection with the case was released without charge on Sunday. Police reported on Friday that a 48-year-old woman was in a critical but stable condition at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, and a 27-year-old man was receiving treatment at James Cook University Hospital. Two teenage girls were discharged after suffering non-life-threatening injuries.