- Jaden Wright, 23, has pleaded not guilty to the murders of seven-year-old Valentina Foster and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, in a house fire near Middlesbrough.
- Valentina and her aunt died in the blaze in Grangetown on 26 August, which also left two adults and two teenagers injured.
- Appearing via video link at Teesside Crown Court, Wright also denied two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.
- He further pleaded not guilty to causing a woman grievous bodily harm and intentional strangulation relating to an alleged incident on 25 August.
- Judge Francis Laird KC remanded Wright in custody ahead of a further hearing on 18 December, with the trial set to begin on 19 April.
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