The evil pair lied and lied and lied again in a desperate bid to escape justice – blaming each other for the inferno in which Dean died.
But a jury saw through their sickening refusal to accept their guilt and yesterday found both the arsonists guilty.
The verdict came at the end of 12 traumatic days of evidence at Newcastle Crown Court during which the full horrors of Dean's death were replayed.
His pregnant mum, Janine Dodd had to relive every detail of June 25 last year when her 11-year-old son perished.
Dean's charred body was found by firefighters on the upstairs landing of their home – which no longer had stairs due to the 1,000 degree centigrade heat.
Thirty-year-old Janine, who was heavily pregnant, was dragged to safety by neighbours from her back garden after being blown from an upstairs bedroom of her home in Mordey Close, Deerness Park, Hendon.
The court had heard how Dean's body had been partially cremated by the intensity of the blaze.
English, 43, and Majinusz, 40, poured lighter fuel through the letter box to start the blaze – but tragically they got the wrong house.
Their deadly aim was to target relations of Majinusz's 18-year-old girlfriend.
He was angry because some of her family disapproved of their relationship due to the 22-year age gap.
But the house they were looking for was a few streets away. They wrongly torched the door of the home Janine and Dean had shared for just six weeks.
Majinusz and English, both of Chester Road, denied murder, but were found guilty of Dean's death and guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Janine. They were cleared of attempting to murder the mum.
Trevor Gordon, 22, of Redmond Road, Sunderland, was also accused of the murder and attempted murder of Dean and Janine but was cleared of all charges.
English already has a previous conviction for arson after he torched an ex-girlfriend's home.
Judge John Milford was today sentencing Majinusz and English and warned the pair yesterday they are facing life behind bars.
He told them: "You have both been convicted of murder and the only sentence I can pass upon you is a sentence of life imprisonment."
Prosecutor Brian Forster QC told the court: "Miss Dodd did not know the defendants and they did not know her.
"There had been no trouble between them of whatsoever.
He said: "The defendants had gone to the wrong house.
"Miss Dodd and her son were innocent victims sleeping in their own beds in their own home."
Janine was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital before being transferred to the neurosurgical unit at Newcastle General.
As well as the effects of smoke inhalation she had a fractured skull, bleeding on her brain and a fracture of a vertabrae in her back.
She survived and gave birth to baby McKenzie seven months ago – a baby who her family say is the reason she keeps on going.










Timetable

Friday, June 24: At 1am fire swept through the house, trapping Dean.
Saturday, June 25: A murder hunt gets under way to catch Dean's killers.
Monday, June 27: Janine Dodd is taken off the danger list as she recovers in hospital.
Wednesday, June 29: Detectives ask for help from local shopkeepers to trace anyone spotted buying a large amount of lighter fluid.
Thursday, June 29: The search for shops selling Swan's Lighter Fluid is widened across the city amid speculation a discarded tin of the fluid may have been used to start the blaze.
Wednesday, July 6: The Echo offers a £1,500 reward to help catch Dean's killers.
Monday, July 11: Police chiefs ask the people of Hendon to "search their hearts" and come forward with information.
Tuesday, July 19: Police reveal a man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Thursday, July 21: Neil English, 42, of Chester Road, is charged with murder and attempted murder.
Saturday, July 30: Terry Majinusz, 41, of North Bridge Street, appears before Sunderland magistrates charged with murder and attempted murder.
Thursday, August 18: Dean's funeral takes place at St Peter's Church in Monkwearmouth.
Thursday, August 25: Trevor Gordon, of Redmond Road, Red House, charged with murder and attempted murder.
Wednesday, May 10: English and Majinusz are found guilty of Dean's murder and GBH with intent on Janine. Trevor Gordon is cleared.


Arsonist had struck before

KILLER Neil English was no stranger to setting fires in revenge attacks.
Eight years before he helped torch Dean Pike's home, the vicious arsonist set light to his former lover's flat and car.
He had developed a knack of ripping the caps off bottles of lighter fuel with his teeth, just before he started his fires.
On November 27, 1997, he set fire to a former lover's car, and on December, 5, he broke into her flat and started two blazes – one on her bed and one on her settee.
Fortunately she had been out at the time. He pleaded guilty to both offences, although he left no scientific evidence of his crime at the scene.
A cool and calculating criminal, he has never shown any remorse or expressed regret to Dean's family.
English and Terry Majinusz had become close friends in the months prior to the blaze which killed Dean.
In March 2005, Majinusz allegedly helped save English's life after an apparent overdose.
He phoned for an ambulance and was able to tell doctors the type of tablet English had taken.
English remained at Sunderland Royal Hospital for four days. The incident helped seal the friendship.
Majinusz, whose father was Polish, had no serious past convictions but was described in court as "not the brightest".
Trevor Gordon, had latched on to the pair after English had become involved with his mother. He was described to the court as following the two men around like a lost "dog".
He would tag along on their fishing trips, including one to Roker Pier in the hours before the murder.