A man arrested on suspicion of murder after a deadly house fire near Middlesbrough has appeared in court charged with grievous bodily harm and intentional strangulation.
Jaden Wright, 23, appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Saturday accused of the separate alleged offences.
The court heard how Wright, of Middlesbrough, was arrested on suspicion of murder in relation to the house fire in the Grangetown area of Teesside on Wednesday.
The blaze killed Natalie McDonald, 34, and her seven-year-old niece, Valentina Foster.
Wright was subsequently charged with the GBH and strangulation offences, which relate to an alleged incident in Grange Farm Road on 25 August, the court heard.
Prosecutors said the complainant in this case was living in a tent when she was allegedly attacked by the defendant. She was taken to hospital, where it was found she had injuries including a fractured eye socket.
Magistrates agreed to an application for Wright to be remanded into police custody. He is due to appear again at the same court on 2 September.
No pleas were entered, and Wright spoke only to confirm his name and personal details.
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Four other people were injured in the house fire on Wednesday.
On Friday, Cleveland Police said that a 48-year-old woman remains in the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle in a "critical but stable" condition, and a 27-year-old man is receiving treatment at James Cook University Hospital.
Two teenage girls suffered non life-threatening injuries, and have been discharged from hospital following treatment, police added.
The force said the house remains unstable, and work will be carried out on the building over the coming days to make the site safe.
The force also said on Friday afternoon that they were not linking the house fire with a fatal crash on the A66 last Saturday which killed five young men and two police officers.
(c) Sky News 2026: Man arrested on suspicion of murder over fatal house fire near Middlesbrough c
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