Tragic mum who died eight years after being attacked by convicted arsonist who exposed himself in her home is buried next to stillborn son

A TRAGIC mum who died from injuries from an arson attack which also killed her dad eight years ago has been laid to rest - next to her stillborn son.

Richard Perkins, 38, was overcome from fumes when evil Stephen George-Davies petrol-bombed his family's terraced home in 2008.

Mr Perkins' wife Rose and their daughter Katie, who was 17, managed to escape the inferno but both suffered lung and breathing problems as a result of the blaze.

George-Davies was convicted of murder and jailed for 22 years but died in prison in 2014 aged 58.

During the trial, brave Katie, whose voice box was badly damaged in the fire, gave evidence which helped convict her father's killer.

After he was jailed, Judge Alistair McGreath commended Katie's bravery, describing the details of the case as "absolutely horrifying."

Tragically, after years of battling breathing problems, Katie died on June 28, just hours after her son William was stillborn.

On Monday  mother and son were laid to rest in the same coffin, coloured Katie's favourite colour pink, at their funeral.

Hundreds of family and friends packed St Egwin's Church Norton near Evesham, Worcs., - the same church Katie married husband Chris in August 2011.

The mother and son arrived in a white carriage drawn by four white horses, each adorned with a crest of pink feathers as a lone piper, Andy King, in full regalia played.

Reverend Andrew Spurr who paid tribute to Katie's courage and the way she carried her wounds after the fire.

He said: "I became aware of her, as many people outside the family were, after the fire which affected her voice so desperately.

"I can remember how determined she was to get the wedding vows out even though she was going to have to rasp them through her throat.

"She was someone who didn't let setbacks stand between her and what she wanted to do."

Katie's mum Rose Perkins, 48, said: "Katie, you had a heart of gold and you did your best for everyone. Family meant everything to you.

"Katie, you would be proud of her (Poppy Katie's daughter). She has been such a good girl and all our family will take care of her the way you would have wanted so no worrying then."

Songs played at the funeral included 'Amazing Grace', 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing' by Aerosmith, 'Do You Want to Build a Snowman' from Frozen, 'Applejack' by Dolly Parton (which Poppy sang to her mum as she died), 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' and 'Spirit in the Sky' by Norman Greenbaum.

Following Katie's sudden death, her family had claimed her daughter and grandson had been murdered by George-Davies "from beyond the grave."

Mrs Perkins said: "He (George-Davies) not only cheated his sentence when he died but his crimes have killed my daughter and her son.

"He should have rotted in prison for 20 years.

"He's scum. He has caused so much pain it is unbelievable.

"He's tortured me for eight years. It slowly killed Katie. He's killed them all. He took

Katie away from us. He even took the baby.

"I hope he rots in hell. I have lost the closest thing I have in my life - my daughter."

The tragic sequence of events started when George-Davies went to the Perkins' home in Malvern, Worcs., on October 12, 2008, after answering an advert for some puppies for sale.

George-Davies, who was known to the family, had a drink with Mrs Perkins but was thrown out when he exposed his private parts to Katie.

Three hours later he returned to the house with a can of petrol and set fire to the property while everyone was asleep inside.

Katie and her mum woke up and were able to scramble out of the house but Mr Perkins was overcome by the choking fumes.

George-Davies was arrested days later and in August 2009 was jailed for 22 after he was convicted of murder.

After the fire Katie spent four weeks in intensive care at Worcestershire Royal

Hospital, after suffering from collapsed lungs.

While recovering, Katie was resuscitated more than three times.

Despite her injuries, she found love and went on to marry Chris, 34, and the couple had a daughter, Poppy, now four, and were delighted when she fell pregnant again with a boy.

But eight months into the pregnancy, Katie was rushed to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital and on June 27 was devastated when baby William was stillborn.

Tragically, Katie died the following day on June 28 after suffering complications.

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