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Carl Mills guilty of fire triple murders Carl Mills guilty of fire triple murders
(35 minutes later)
A man has been convicted of murdering three generations of a family in a fire, including his six-month old baby on her first night home from hospital. A man has been jailed for a minimum of 30 years for murdering three generations of a family in a fire, including his six-month old baby on her first night home from hospital.
Kim Buckley, 46, her daughter Kayleigh, 17, and granddaughter Kimberley died in the blaze in Cwmbran last September.Kim Buckley, 46, her daughter Kayleigh, 17, and granddaughter Kimberley died in the blaze in Cwmbran last September.
Carl Mills, 28, who was "incredibly controlling and jealous", started the fire because he wrongly believed another man was in the house. Carl Mills, 28, was said to be "incredibly controlling and jealous".
Neighbours had tried to rescue the family but were beaten back by flames. The judge told Mills he condemned the family to "an agonising death - you have shown no remorse".
Mills sent a barrage of abusive texts to Kayleigh in the hours and days leading to the fire in which he repeatedly threatened to murder her, their baby and burn down the house. Mr Justice Wyn Williams said there was no guarantee Mills would ever be released and praised the family for its "dignity".
In the early hours of 18 September 2012, Mills, originally from Manchester, set fire to a recycling bin in the porch of the family's house at 15 Tillsland on the Coed Eva estate. The court had previously heard Mills started the fire because he wrongly believed another man was in the house.
He had sent a barrage of abusive texts to Kayleigh in the hours and days leading to the blaze in which he repeatedly threatened to murder her, their baby and burn down the house.
In the early hours of 18 September last year, Mills, originally from Manchester, set fire to a recycling bin in the porch of the family's house at 15 Tillsland on the Coed Eva estate.
Kimberley, who had been born 15 weeks prematurely and was blind and deaf, had only been released from hospital the previous afternoon after spending her first six months in a neo-natal unit.Kimberley, who had been born 15 weeks prematurely and was blind and deaf, had only been released from hospital the previous afternoon after spending her first six months in a neo-natal unit.
A jealous Mills resented the attention Kayleigh gave to their daughter and wrongly accused Kayleigh of seeing another man whom he thought was in the house with her the night of the fire.A jealous Mills resented the attention Kayleigh gave to their daughter and wrongly accused Kayleigh of seeing another man whom he thought was in the house with her the night of the fire.
On Thursday, as the jury filed back into court before the verdicts were read out, Mills looked apprehensive. Neighbours had tried to rescue the family but were beaten back by flames.
He was accused of being callous, hurtful and spiteful as he yawned while the family's victim impact statement was read out by the prosecution. In court on Thursday, Mills was described as being callous, hurtful and spiteful as he yawned while the family's victim impact statement was read out by the prosecution.
During the trial, the jury heard evidence of a barrage of abusive text messages sent by Mills to Kayleigh in the hours and days leading to the fire in which he repeatedly threatened to harm her and set the house on fire. The statement read: "Today we feel justice has been served. Carl Mills starts a life sentence for three murders but for us, the family and friends of Kim, Kayleigh and Kimberley, our life sentence started on the 18th of September last year when three beautiful, innocent people were torn from our lives.
"Our lives are never going to be the same again but we ask to be left in peace to come to terms with our losses.
"We would also like thank the police, CPS, fire service and everyone who helped bring this case to court and convict Carl Mills."
A statement was also read out on behalf of Gwyneth Buckley, the mother of Kim.
It read: "They were affectionately known as Special K, as they were known to others and so many people.
"To have them all lost in one senseless act is beyond words. I have much family but feel lost without Kim, feel alone. People ask what can I do to help or I'm here for you, but I want to turn to Kim but she isn't there.
"Kim was proud of Kayleigh and was looking forward to the future. I still can't believed it's happened. Kim was more like a best friend than a daughter."
Trial judge Mr Justice Wyn Williams then imposed a 30-year minimum tariff on Mills, adding: "There is no saying whether you will ever be released."
Mills sat leaning on his arm as the judge made his comments and did not look up.
Family and friends then gave a round of applause as Mills was taken away.
Det Supt Peter Jones paid tribute to the family's "bravery" on the steps of the court and to neighbours who had put themselves "in harm's way" in their desperate attempts to save the family.
He said it was difficult to put into words how he felt about Mills, adding: "In starting that fire he knew what he was doing and, from witness evidence, smirked at what he did."
During the trial, the jury heard evidence of a series of abusive text messages sent by Mills to Kayleigh in the hours and days leading to the fire in which he repeatedly threatened to harm her and set the house on fire.
Heard screams
They included: "Your house is going to go up in flames and I will be home when it does" while another promised: "I will murder you lot."They included: "Your house is going to go up in flames and I will be home when it does" while another promised: "I will murder you lot."
Just hours before the fire he sent texts saying: "I ... hope you get burnt" and: "If your house gets set on fire I'll find him."Just hours before the fire he sent texts saying: "I ... hope you get burnt" and: "If your house gets set on fire I'll find him."
No concern
Expert witnesses said the fire had spread rapidly up the stairs and into the bedrooms. Neighbours heard screams for help coming from the house and tried to reach the women with a ladder but the fire was too fierce.Expert witnesses said the fire had spread rapidly up the stairs and into the bedrooms. Neighbours heard screams for help coming from the house and tried to reach the women with a ladder but the fire was too fierce.
Mills was arrested in the back garden of the house after behaving strangely and not showing any concern for the people inside.Mills was arrested in the back garden of the house after behaving strangely and not showing any concern for the people inside.
He denied the murders, claiming he was drinking at a nearby spot in a field when the fire began and that he loved Kayleigh and was planning a future with her and Kimberley.He denied the murders, claiming he was drinking at a nearby spot in a field when the fire began and that he loved Kayleigh and was planning a future with her and Kimberley.
Det Supt Peter Jones from Gwent Police, who led the murder investigation, said: "Carl Mills was an incredibly controlling individual and an incredibly jealous one. We can see that from the texts he sent to Kayleigh on the night of the murders.
"The text messages that were sent that night were peppered with abusive comments towards Kayleigh and members of the family. Not just threats but how he was going to carry them out.
"This is an incredibly rare case to murder three people in the same house on the same night and all of them in the same family. It all outlines Carl Mills as an individual."