My sister and her baby daughters were killed in a horrific arson attack 27 years ago – we still have no justice for them

THE sister of a mum who was killed in an arson attack 27 years ago along with her two baby daughters has told of her family's pain.

The murders of Diane Jones, 21, Shauna, two, and 13-month-old Sarah Jane on October 11, 1995 remain unsolved.

Diane and the babies were asleep at 2am when their killer poured petrol through their letterbox and struck a match.

Relatives in a neighbouring house woke to see her house on fire and knew she was trapped inside with her daughters.

Two women were jailed for their part in the fatal arson attack - but were freed when their convictions were quashed.

Cops said the murder file remains open, but Diane’s family have not been contacted by officers for 20 years.

Relatives have now released unseen photographs of Diane and her daughters in the hope it encourages people to come forward with new information.

Her sister Mary, 45, said: "We never got justice for Diane and her two little girls - it’s like they never existed.

"But we’ve never forgotten and this year we decided to mark the anniversary in a special way.

"Diane had a heart of gold and she loved her babies - they were her world.

"That’s what I was thinking when we let the balloons go on the exact spot she and her daughters were murdered."

The gutted council house on the Gurnos Estate was bulldozed years ago and a small commemorative plaque now stands on the site.

Diane’s family laid flowers and teddy bears and released pink, purple and yellow balloons, the single mum’s favourite colours.

Mary said: "It has been 27 years but it feels like yesterday. It was the worst day of my life.

"I could see their house from my place and I woke to see it engulfed in flames and firemen trying to reach my sister and her little girls.

"We don’t know why they were murdered although at the time we were told the motive was jealousy.

"We want the police to look into the case again and give us some answers."

The murder led to more tragedy for the family - Diane’s dad Johnny took his own life at the age of 52.

When her mum Myra was struck down with cancer she begged police for answers - but she tragically died without getting justice for Diane, Shauna and Sarah Jane.

Mum-of-three Mary said: “Now I feel the same way as our mum, I want justice for Diane and her girls. 

“The killer or killers must still be out there and the police say the case is still open."

Two local women - Donna Clarke and Annette Hewins - were cleared of murder but found guilty of arson with intent to endanger life and jailed for 20 years and 13 years.

But the pair were freed on appeal in 1999 and South Wales Police never made another arrest in connection with the murders.

In 2006 the force announced that mother-of-five Hewins played no part in the death of Diane Jones and her daughters. 

Hewins died in 2017 after being sectioned under the Mental Health Act. 

Detective Chief Superintendent Jason Davies said South Wales Police would act on any new information about the 1995 murders.

He said: “All historic murder cases are allocated to the Major Crime Review Unit and remain under active consideration.

“They will be subject of re-investigation as and when new information is received or when there are opportunities following advances in forensic science.  

“Each case is reviewed periodically.  If information comes in from the public or other forces we act on it.”