E-bike battery in fatal fire had repairs, inquest hears

Peden planned to “use the bike until payday” and said he paid £10 on the understanding he would return and purchase a new battery and charger.

He said on the night of the fire he heard a “massive bang” that went through the house, which was “very loud and very hard to miss”.

Severinov, giving evidence through an interpreter, said he was repairing bikes and e-bikes.

He said on the first occasion Peden visited he changed the socket and the fuse, and on the second “it was just the fuse”.

On the first occasion he had explained “it was a temporary fix”.

Severinov said he remembered telling Peden he needed a new battery, and said he had “never done anything to the battery cells”, adding he “didn’t have the expertise in the first place”.

The court heard Severinov was interviewed under caution by the Office for Product Safety and Standards, which has primacy in bringing any criminal proceedings in this case.

It was told it had said no final decision had been made on whether to initiate criminal proceedings against any individuals or organisations.

A pen portrait from Germeney’s mother, read out at the beginning of the inquest by the coroner, said Germeney and the children were “our complete world” and “were beautiful, funny, extremely kind, loving and caring”.

The inquest continues.

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