Life for arsonist who laughed as two neighbours burned to death in ‘devastating’ Reading fire | UK News
An arsonist who killed two of his neighbors in a “premeditated and devastating revenge attack” has been sentenced to life in prison.
Hakeem Kigundu, 32, admitted to pouring gasoline on the ground floor of a home in Reading, Berkshire, and starting a fire that killed Richard Burgess, 46, and Neil Morris, 45.
The fire also left two other people seriously injured, Joel Richards with third-degree burns and Laura Wiggins with a punctured lung, a blood clot in the kidney, and broken pelvis, ribs, right arm and spine.
In the days leading up to his deadly arson attack, Kigundu, a Ugandan citizen believed to have entered the UK illegally, bought 40 liters of petrol, a sledgehammer and a mask. “V For Vendetta”.
He outlined his intention to kill his neighbor in an audio recording and created an email address with the words “burn them all down”.
Hakeem Kigundu will spend the rest of his life in prison
In sentencing, Mr Justice Holgate said: “I am certain that this was a premeditated attack carried out by the defendant in retaliation.”
He added: “I don’t accept that any real remorse has been shown – accept guilt, yes, but no remorse.”
Justice Holgate issued Kigundu a “whole life order”. This means a person will never be released from prison, except in particularly pitiful circumstances.
Neil Morris loses life in ‘terrifying’ fire
Richard Burgess is Kigundu’s second victim
Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said Kigundu planned the attack after growing anger over his neighbors’ complaints about his antisocial behavior and about his job loss. worked as a BT engineer in the previous months.
Earlier, the court heard an audio recording made by Kigundu on December 9, in which he appeared to state his intention to cause the “death” of neighbors at Rowe Court.
One of the property’s former residents, the bus driver, Mr. Richards, 55, risked his life to wake the two before jumping from a second-floor window. He told the court he had seen Kigundu laughing from his car parked outside when the building caught fire.
Kigundu pleaded guilty on September 20 to two counts of murder, two counts of causing bodily harm and one count of arson with intent to endanger life.
Kigundu was seen buying petrol before the fire at a BP Garage gas station in Reading
‘Meaning of justice’
Attorney Hayley Garey, of the Crown Prosecution Service, described it as a “premeditated and devastating revenge attack”.
She said: “He started the fire in the middle of the night when he knew it would cause a lot of damage, damage and eventually death.
“Our thoughts are with the families of the victims who perished, and with the survivors, who have lost their homes and most of their possessions.
“We hope this verdict can give them some sense of justice.”
