A HUDDERSFIELD man was today found guilty of eight counts of murder in the Birkby firebomb trial.

Shaied Iqbal, 26, of Springdale Street, Thornton Lodge, was found guilty by a jury at Leeds Crown Court after the incident on May 12 last year.

Five girls, their mother and uncle died in the house in Osborne Road. Their grandmother died in hospital from her injuries after she leapt from an upstairs window.

The jury at Leeds Crown Court heard how petrol bombs were thrown through the windows of the house.

The jury retired to consider its verdicts on Friday. It did not sit on Monday after a juror fell ill.

The jury is still considering its verdicts on Nazar Hussain, 24, of Dryclough Road, Crosland Moor, and Shakiel Shazad, 23, of Gledholt Road, Gledholt, who each deny eight counts of murder. They also deny conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.

Nazar Hussain and Shazad have both admitted a charge of conspiracy to damage motor vehicles by fire. Iqbal denied this charge but admitted conspiring to damage motor vehicles.

Another defendant - Anwar Hussain, 22, of Dryclough Road, Crosland Moor - denies conspiracy to commit criminal damage to motor vehicles by fire.

Returning unanimous verdicts in hushed courtroom, jury members also found Iqbal guilty of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. He had denied the charge.

* Those who died were Tayyaba Batool, 13, Rabiah Batool, 10, Ateeqa Nawaz, six, Aneesa Nawaz, two, Najeeba Nawaz, six months, their mother Nafeesa Aziz, 35, and their uncle Mohammed Ateeq-ur-Rehman, 18. Zaib-un-Nisa, 54, died from her injuries a week later.

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