A man has been charged with murder following a house fire in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, which resulted in the deaths of Natalie McDonald, 34, and her seven-year-old niece, Valentina Foster.
Jaden Wright, 23, appeared at Teesside Crown Court charged with two counts of murder, as well as multiple grievous bodily harm offences in connection with the blaze, which occurred in the early hours of 26 August.
Cleveland Police initially stated they could not exclude a connection between the fire and organised crime, linked to seven deaths in an A66 crash. However, officers have since confirmed the cases are not linked.
A man and a woman remain in hospital following the incident, while two teenage girls have been discharged after receiving treatment.
Family tributes described Ms McDonald, who married nine months ago, as the "heart and soul of our street and community" and "loved by all". Valentina's parents said their lives had been changed forever by her "devastating loss".