Emergency services at the scene of a house fire in Chatham, which killed Melissa Crook and her baby Noah (below)

by Julia Roberts

The dad of a young mum killed with her baby boy in a blaze at their Chatham home has also died.

Mark Crook, 49, suffered serious burns when a fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday morning at the three-bedroomed terrace property in Chatham Hill.

He had been in a life-threatening condition in East Grinstead Hospital in Sussex.

Melissa Crook, 20, and her son, Noah, also died in the blaze.

This morning, two men and a woman appeared at Maidstone Crown Court following the deaths.

Melissa's estranged husband Danai Muhammadi, a 23-year-old car salesman from Britannia Street, Coventry, appeared via video link from HMP Elmley.

He is charged with two offences of murder and three of attempted murder.

Also appearing with him on the video link was 35-year-old Farhad Mahmud, of Kensington House, Fernhill Road, Maidstone.

He also faces two offences of murder and three of attempted murder.

Present in the courtroom dock was Muhammadi's current girlfriend, Emma Smith, 21, from Barley Lea, Stoke Aldermore, Coventry.

She was charged yesterday with conspiracy to murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

All three defendants confirmed their names at the start of the hearing.

Smith, wearing a navy sweatshirt and black trousers, sat in the dock flanked by two security officers and looked nervously around the courtroom throughout the brief hearing.

The court heard that Muhammadi, Mahmud and Smith are all expected to plead not guilty to the offences and a trial date was provisionally fixed to start on March 12.

John Fitzgerald, defending Muhammadi, said the case would involve "complicated evidence" from mobile phones and fire and forensic experts.

The charges of attempted murder relate to Melissa's father, mother and brother who were also in the house at the time of the blaze.

Amanda Crook, 49, was treated at hospital for smoke inhalation and burns.

Bohdan Crook, 21, has also been discharged from hospital following treatment for fractures and smoke inhalation.

Hundreds of floral tributes have been left outside the family home. Messages have also been posted online.

Remanding the defendants in custody until a plea and case management hearing on November 25, Judge Philip Statman remarked that it was a case of "considerable public importance".