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Jacqueline Kirk attacker given life sentence after setting her alight Jacqueline Kirk murderer given life sentence for fire attack
(31 minutes later)
Craig must serve at least 15 years in jail for the murder of Jacqueline Kirk Steven Craig must serve at least 15 years in jail for the murder of Jacqueline Kirk
A man has been handed a life sentence for murdering his ex-partner, who died 21 years after he set her alight. A man has been given a life sentence for murdering his ex-partner, who died 21 years after he set her alight.
Jacqueline Kirk was badly disfigured after Steven Craig acted out a torture scene from Reservoir Dogs at their home in Weston-super-Mare in 1998.Jacqueline Kirk was badly disfigured after Steven Craig acted out a torture scene from Reservoir Dogs at their home in Weston-super-Mare in 1998.
Craig, 59, has been given a life sentence at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday, with a minimum of 15 years. In a landmark case Craig must spend a minimum of 15 years in prison on top of the 19 he has served for the attack.
He was jailed for life for GBH with intent in 2000 and has already served nearly 19 years behind bars. He was jailed for life for GBH with intent in 2000 but was charged with murder when Ms Kirk died in 2019.
Following Ms Kirk's death, Craig, 59, was tried for her murder at Bristol Crown Court in what is believed to be a legal first, given the length of time between the attack and Ms Kirk's death.
Sentencing him at Bristol Crown Court earlier, Mrs Justice Stacey said he "repeatedly" replayed the torture scene from the film "with a permanent grin" where a police officer is covered in petrol.
There was no doubt you planned a "gratuitous" and "deliberate" attack on the mother-of-two, she added.
Ms Kirk was left severely disfigured from the attack by Steven Craig in 1998
"She was always in pain and suffered from depression and nightmares, and was suicidal at times."
Ahead of sentencing, prosecutor Richard Smith KC read out statements from Ms Kirk which she gave to police at her trial in 2000.
'Constant struggle'
She said that "nothing or no amount of counselling could prepare me or did prepare me" for the attack.
"I am now a very timid, shy and even embarrassed person," she added.
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"Why me? What I have I ever done to deserve this sentence on my life?"
"Life today is a constant struggle."
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