A woman accused of murdering two youngsters in an arson attack said her sister blackmailed her into accompanying her travelling to Oxford on the fatal night, a court heard.

Anum Khan, nine, died in the fire at her home in Magdalen Road, east Oxford, on August 26 last year. Her brother, Majid, 15, died two days later as a result of his burns.

Riaz Munshi, 26, is one of six people accused of the two murders.

Yesterday, (Nov 2) Riaz Munshi told Birmingham Crown Court her sister Fiaz, who has fled the country, insisted she join her on a trip to Ablett Close, Oxford, to fight Shanaz, sister of the children who died.

Earlier, the court heard both sisters had been thrown out of their home in Freelands Road, Oxford, by their brothers and were living in a women's refuge in Hertfordshire.

The brothers were angered by the girls' refusal to conform to a traditional Muslim lifestyle. Riaz Munshi told the jury her sister blamed the Khan family for their having been thrown out of their home.

She said: "Fiaz said 'If you don't come back to Oxford today, I will inform our brothers of where you are living'."

She said Fiaz also threatened to tell their brothers about Riaz Munshi's relationship with co-accused Haroon Sharif, 20. Riaz Munshi said her sister was determined to fight Shanaz Khan. She said she did not agree with her sister.

"I used to tell her let's forget about it. Let's get on with our lives and that but she wouldn't.

"She was very violent and aggressive. She was very mouthy. She doesn't like taking abuse or anything from anyone."

The six charged with the two murders are Alan Swanton, 18, of Southern Way, Letchworth, Hertfordshire; brothers Mohammed Nawaz, 21, and Haq Nawaz, 31, both of Ridge Road, Letchworth; Thomas Liedl, 18, of Birdshill, Letchworth; Haroon Sharif, 20, of Morrell Avenue, Oxford; and Riaz Munshi, 26, of Fulwell Road, Sheffield. They all deny the charges.

Alan Swanton and Thomas Liedl are alleged to have started the fire by squirting petrol through the Khan's letter-box.

The case continues.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.