Basma, 13, and little Yehya, two, who died in the Neasden house fire

Chest freezer will form part of probe into cause of blaze

Bassam Kua at the funeral of his wife and five children

A chest freezer will form part of the investigation into what caused the fire which killed five children and their mother in Neasden.

Muna Elmufatish, 41, her daughters Hanin, 14, Basma, 13 and Amal, nine and sons Mustafa, five and two-year-old Yehya Kua died when a blaze swept through their semi-detached home in Sonia Gardens, last September.

Father Bassam Kua, 51, and his eldest daughter 16-year-old Nur managed to escape the inferno.

A preliminary hearing ahead of a full inquest into their deaths took place today at North London Coroner’s Court.

The family home in Sonia Gardens which was destroyed in the fire

A representative from a home appliance company was asked to attend the hearing.

A freezer is still in the hands of the London Fire Brigade which is yet to produce its report.

Coroner Andrew Walker said the inquest would have to be delayed until all necessary reports have been conducted.

He said: “I pass my condolences to the family and hope they understand why the inquest has been delayed. The delay is necessary for good reason.”

Another hearing is expected to take place in early June before the full inquest is heard later this year.

Dr Farroq Bajwa, representing the Kua family, said: “They just want to find out exactly what happened.”

London Fire Brigade described the fire as the worst house blaze in London in over a decade.

A post mortem revealed all six died from smoke inhalation.

Hundreds of people attended their funerals at The Garden of Peace Cemetery in Ilford last year.

Mourners included teachers from teachers and pupils from Crest Academy in Crest Road, Neasden, where Hanin and Basma were students.

Governors, teachers and friends from Braintcroft Primary School, in Warren Road, Neasden, where Amal and Mustafa were pupils, also paid their final respects.