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| Jacqueline Kirk murderer given life sentence for fire attack | Jacqueline Kirk murderer given life sentence for fire attack |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Steven Craig must serve at least 15 years in jail for the murder of Jacqueline Kirk who was known by family and friends as Jackie | |
| A man has been given 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 re-enacted a torture scene from the film Reservoir Dogs at home in Weston-super-Mare in 1998. | |
| Craig was found guilty of grievous bodily harm at the time and served almost 19 years in jail. | Craig was found guilty of grievous bodily harm at the time and served almost 19 years in jail. |
| Ms Kirk died in 2019 from complications relating to the injuries she suffered, so Craig was then charged with murder. | Ms Kirk died in 2019 from complications relating to the injuries she suffered, so Craig was then charged with murder. |
| In a landmark case, he must now spend a minimum of 15 years in prison on top of the 18 years and 11 months he has already served. | In a landmark case, he must now spend a minimum of 15 years in prison on top of the 18 years and 11 months he has already served. |
| Craig, of Brailsford Crescent, York, had admitted the attack on Ms Kirk but denied being responsible for her death. | Craig, of Brailsford Crescent, York, had admitted the attack on Ms Kirk but denied being responsible for her death. |
| Sentencing the 59-year-old at Bristol Crown Court earlier, Mrs Justice Stacey said Craig "repeatedly" replayed the torture scene from the film - where a police officer is covered in petrol - "with a permanent grin" . | Sentencing the 59-year-old at Bristol Crown Court earlier, Mrs Justice Stacey said Craig "repeatedly" replayed the torture scene from the film - where a police officer is covered in petrol - "with a permanent grin" . |
| There was no doubt you planned a "gratuitous" and "deliberate" attack on the mother-of-two, she added. | There was no doubt you planned a "gratuitous" and "deliberate" attack on the mother-of-two, she added. |
| "She was always in pain and suffered from depression and nightmares, and was suicidal at times." | "She was always in pain and suffered from depression and nightmares, and was suicidal at times." |
| Ms Kirk was left severely disfigured from the attack by Steven Craig in 1998 | Ms Kirk was left severely disfigured from the attack by Steven Craig in 1998 |
| The judge said there was a history of violence by Craig towards Ms Kirk. | |
| He was drunk at the time of the attack and had behaved "cowardly" afterwards - ordering her to stay away from him while she was on fire, and did not help her to extinguish the flames. | |
| The judge highlighted the "level of sadism and extreme nature of the attack", describing it as "just so callous and so brutal". | |
| Ms Kirk suffered "physical and mental suffering and terrible scarring" for the 21 years she lived, being reminded of the attack every time she looked in the mirror, the judge said. | |
| Ahead of sentencing, prosecutor Richard Smith KC read out statements from Ms Kirk which she gave to police at her trial in 2000. | Ahead of sentencing, prosecutor Richard Smith KC read out statements from Ms Kirk which she gave to police at her trial in 2000. |
| She said that "nothing or no amount of counselling could prepare me or did prepare me" for the attack. | 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. | "I am now a very timid, shy and even embarrassed person," she added. |
| "Why me? What I have I ever done to deserve this sentence on my life?" | "Why me? What I have I ever done to deserve this sentence on my life?" |
| "Life today is a constant struggle." | "Life today is a constant struggle." |
| Her son Shane said his mother was a "strong-minded person" when he was growing up but there were occasions when she had made some poor life choices. | Her son Shane said his mother was a "strong-minded person" when he was growing up but there were occasions when she had made some poor life choices. |
| She began to change after she started a relationship with Craig, he said. | She began to change after she started a relationship with Craig, he said. |
| Great dignity | Great dignity |
| She met him by chance and gave Craig shelter because he was homeless, but his influence led her to drug and drink problems that she had previously conquered, he said. | She met him by chance and gave Craig shelter because he was homeless, but his influence led her to drug and drink problems that she had previously conquered, he said. |
| The court heard Ms Kirk was so disfigured that her daughter Sonna only recognised her by her feet when she first saw her in hospital. | The court heard Ms Kirk was so disfigured that her daughter Sonna only recognised her by her feet when she first saw her in hospital. |
| In a statement Sonna said she "spent 21 years of feeling grateful and thankful for every extra day that I got to spend with my mum". | In a statement Sonna said she "spent 21 years of feeling grateful and thankful for every extra day that I got to spend with my mum". |
| "From the very beginning, when I was told that she would likely die, she managed to surprise everyone and came through so much. | "From the very beginning, when I was told that she would likely die, she managed to surprise everyone and came through so much. |
| "She was able to see me grow up into an adult, where I got married and then went on to have children, and so she became nanny Jackie. | "She was able to see me grow up into an adult, where I got married and then went on to have children, and so she became nanny Jackie. |
| "It has been three years since my mum died and during that time part of my life has been on hold because I haven't had complete closure. | "It has been three years since my mum died and during that time part of my life has been on hold because I haven't had complete closure. |
| "I have also had to deal with the emotional trauma of going through a second trial, only this time my mum is no longer with me." | "I have also had to deal with the emotional trauma of going through a second trial, only this time my mum is no longer with me." |
| Senior investigating officer Mark Almond said Ms Kirk "overcame numerous challenges with an incredible determination and fought with great dignity to rediscover the life she had before she was attacked". | Senior investigating officer Mark Almond said Ms Kirk "overcame numerous challenges with an incredible determination and fought with great dignity to rediscover the life she had before she was attacked". |
| The Avon and Somerset Police Det Ch Insp added that Craig was "undoubtedly responsible for Jackie's death and like all murderers, deserves to be severely punished". | The Avon and Somerset Police Det Ch Insp added that Craig was "undoubtedly responsible for Jackie's death and like all murderers, deserves to be severely punished". |
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