Man Burns Girlfriend Alive Who Tried To Leave Him For His Son
A man 49-yr old man who burned his girlfriend alive in front of two young children has been jailed for life today, according to a court hearing in London.
Ashley Williams and girlfriend, Julie Beattie
Ashley Williams reportedly hit his 24-yr old girlfriend, Julie Beattie, several times on the head with a hammer before pouring a mixture of diesel and petrol over her and setting her on fire right in the middle of their kitchen.
Miss Beattie suffered 90 per cent burns to her body and was so badly injured that her fingers were fused together. She couldn't survive the injuries and died later the same day.
Ruling in court today, Judge Charles Ward ordered that Williams should serve a minimum of 25 years behind bars.
He also criticised Williams for "smiling and chuckling" during the trial and described him as a "very dangerous man" .
The Old Bailey was told the couple got together when Miss Beattie was just 16 and Williams was 40.
On July 19 last year, she told Williams she was leaving him for his 18-year-old son, also called Ashley.
Williams attacked her in the kitchen of their terraced home in front of two children, aged four and five.
Sentencing Williams, Judge Ward said: "I have no doubt of your controlling behaviour in the course of that rather unequal relationship.
"You killed her in the most horrific way imaginable, pouring what you knew to be a flammable liquid mixture of diesel and petrol over her front and back and then you set fire to it, set fire to her, in the house in the kitchen.
"You did so where a number of children could see, but also other adults including adults related to her - her sister."
"There was a risk that the fire would spread had she collapsed in the kitchen of the terraced house."
After the attack, Williams was found in a nearby park by police who followed a trial of blood caused by him slitting his wrists.
The court heard he did nothing to try and save Miss Beattie.
Judge Ward continued: "This was a terrible terrible crime. I take into account your age and the fact you have not been convicted of any serious offence before."
"The sentence is life imprisonment. You will never be released until it's decided by the parole board that it's safe to release you.
"It's been concerning to watch you in this trial and your demeanor, largely impassive sometimes smiling and chuckling inappropriately.
"You are a very dangerous man. You will serve 25 years minimum."
The children were the youngest ever to give evidence in a murder trial at the Old Bailey." At least in the early stages she must have been in extreme pain. The emergency services had to deal with a situation of utter horror because of what you had done.
Source: Legit.ng
