Jun 29, 2007 9:06 pm US/Eastern
Mothers Of Larimer Fire Victims Will Stand Trial
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) ―
The mothers of the five children killed in a house fire earlier this month in Larimer were ordered to stand trial at a preliminary hearing today.
Both Shakita Mangham and Furaha Love appeared at their preliminary hearings in Pittsburgh City Court. They are facing a long list of charges in connection with the deaths of those five children.
The women are facing five counts of involuntary manslaughter, four counts of endangering the welfare of children, two counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of false reports.
However, their attorneys continue to dispute the charges of involuntary manslaughter.
"I really still stick to my guns that I don't see the causal connection," says Love's attorney, Ernest Sharif.
"There is no question she loved the children," says Mangham's attorney, Jim Ecker, "but as far as any causal connection is concerned I don't see any and I don't see any gross negligence on her part."
But the prosecution argues that no one was there to protect the children.
The fire started in a home on Winslow Street in the early morning hours of June 12th.
They are accused of leaving their children home alone overnight when the flames broke out.
Mangham lost three children, Daekia, Dezekiah and Cedano Holyfield, while Love lost two of her sons, Andre and Azquel Rankin, in that blaze.
Investigators say the fire was started by Love's and Mangham's 8-year-old boys who were playing with matches.
The boys will not face charges for that fire.
Stay with KDKA for the latest developments.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
