Nottingham flat fire: Jamie Barrow to face trial next May accused of murders of mum and her 2 daughters

A man accused of murdering his neighbour and her two young children has been told he will face trial in May next year. Jamie Barrow, from Clifton, Nottingham, was arrested on Sunday November 20 after a flat fire in the early hours killed Fatimah Drammeh, aged three, and Naeemah Drammeh, one.

Their mother Fatoumatta Hydara, 28, died in hospital two days later, after suffering smoke inhalation in the blaze at her home in Fairisle Close, Clifton. Barrow, of Fairisle Close, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday for a short hearing which was attended by 12 members of the victims’ family, including the children’s father Aboubacarr Drammeh.

Mr Drammeh, 40, issued a statement at the weekend in which he described how he had to identify his loved ones’ bodies in a hospital mortuary, on his birthday. He has previously described the deaths as “inconceivable” and paid tribute to his wife, a former voluntary worker, as a gentle person who was kind to everyone she met.

Barrow appeared in the dock wearing a plain grey long-sleeved top and jogging bottoms, and spoke only to confirm his name. Adjourning the case, Judge Nirmal Shant KC told Barrow: “Stand up please. Your trial is fixed for the 22nd of May. “There will be other hearings before that and the next hearing date, as far as you are concerned, will be the 17th of February. In the meantime you are remanded in custody.”

Following the hearing, in which legal submissions were made by defence and prosecution barristers, Judge Shant thanked everyone present in court for keeping “understandable” emotions in check. The trial of Barrow, who arrived at court from prison around an hour late, is likely to last for up to three weeks, the court heard.

‘They were both really happy children’

The husband of Ms Hydara and other family members have paid tribute to her, Fatimah, and Naeemah. Aboubacarr Drammeh, who turned 40 on Wednesday, paid tribute to his wife of eight years, He described his wife as a “very faithful person”, who was “caring” and would help “whoever she could”.

He said of his children: “They were both really happy children. They loved spending time with their grandparents and got along really well as siblings.”

Dawda Dibba, 44, Fatoumatta’s uncle, said: “She was an incredible person with incredible passion. She was someone who cared a lot about people. As soon as she met you, you were part of the family. She was such a bubbly and nice person and had a really good sense of humour.

“The two children will be greatly missed. Other children in the family loved playing with them and it is very hard to explain to them what has happened.