BREAKING: Two males charged with manslaughter following death of pensioner in Harold Wood fire.

Two men will appear in court charged with offences following the death of Josephine Smith in Harold Wood in November last year.

Kai Cooper – 18 (06.10.03) of Cleve Road, Leatherhead and a 15-year-old male from Southend will appear in custody at Thames Magistrates’ Court today, Saturday, 8 January charged with the manslaughter of Josephine Smith and arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

Both were also charged with assault by beating which relates to a separate offence on 27 October in High Road, Ilford.

The charges follow an incident where police were called to reports of a fire at a residential address in Queens Park Road, Harold Wood, on Thursday, 28 October.

Pensioner Josephine Smith 88 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene.