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Man guilty of four fire murders Man guilty of four fire murders
(20 minutes later)
A man has been jailed for life after he murdered four people in a fire when he was dumped by his teenage girlfriend. An "obsessive loner" has been jailed for life for killing his ex-girlfriend, two young children and a man in a fire.
Marcus Carter, seven, his sisters Samantha, 16, and Patricia, 10, and Roddy Hine, 44, died in the fire and explosion in Cheddleton in March. Mark Goldstraw used petrol to burn the home in revenge after he was dumped by 16-year-old girlfriend Samantha Carter.
Goldstraw, of Compton House, Leek, who has a previous manslaughter conviction, will serve at least 35 years. Her brother Marcus, seven, Patricia, 10, and their mother's partner Roddy Hine also died in the blast.
His trial heard the 31-year-old started the fire in a revenge attack after Samantha ended their relationship. Goldstraw, 31, who will serve at least 35 years, was on licence after being released early from prison for the manslaughter of a previous girlfriend.
He used petrol to set fire to the house while the three children and their mother's partner slept, Staffordshire Crown Court heard. He set fire to the house while the three children and Mr Hine slept, Staffordshire Crown Court heard.
The children's mother Amanda Carter was on a night shift at work so was not in the house at the time.
Marcus Carter, Patricia Carter and Samantha Carter died in the fireMarcus Carter, Patricia Carter and Samantha Carter died in the fire
Goldstraw killed the four family members just 18 months after being released from prison, where he served a sentence for the manslaughter of his former lover Deborah Wheatley in 2001. The children's mother Amanda Carter was on a night shift at work so was not in the house at the time.
She said in a statement outside court: "Mark Goldstraw has been convicted of a terrible crime against four lovely people. His punishment will never fit his crime.
"Roddy was always there for us. Sammy was my best friend as well as my daughter. Trish will always be my princess. Marcus will always be my little soldier."
Goldstraw killed the four family members just 18 months after being released from jail, where he served a sentence for the manslaughter of his former lover Deborah Wheatley in 2001.
I have nightmares when all I see is my children screaming for help Mark Carter, father
He beat her around the head with a mallet when she decided not to leave her husband for him, the trial was told.He beat her around the head with a mallet when she decided not to leave her husband for him, the trial was told.
Outside court on Wednesday, the children's father Mark Carter said in a statement Goldstraw should stay locked up for the rest of his life and described him as the "lowest of the low".Outside court on Wednesday, the children's father Mark Carter said in a statement Goldstraw should stay locked up for the rest of his life and described him as the "lowest of the low".
He said: "My life has been turned upside down. Now I can hardly sleep at night. I have nightmares when all I see is my children screaming for help."He said: "My life has been turned upside down. Now I can hardly sleep at night. I have nightmares when all I see is my children screaming for help."
Det Ch Insp Dave Garrett, who investigated the murders, said the scene at Hillside Road was one of the most challenging ever encountered by Staffordshire Police.Det Ch Insp Dave Garrett, who investigated the murders, said the scene at Hillside Road was one of the most challenging ever encountered by Staffordshire Police.
"Mark Goldstraw is an extremely dangerous man. He waited until his four victims had gone to bed before letting himself into the house, dousing the hallway with petrol and setting it alight. Police said the house was one of their most challenging scenes
"Mark Goldstraw is an extremely dangerous man," he said. "He waited until his four victims had gone to bed before letting himself into the house, dousing the hallway with petrol and setting it alight.
"Goldstraw seems to be a loner, an obsessive who simply cannot stand rejection. He now has the deaths of five people on his hands.""Goldstraw seems to be a loner, an obsessive who simply cannot stand rejection. He now has the deaths of five people on his hands."
Goldstraw claimed in court he had nothing to do with the fire. He said clothing found in a bin outside his home had been scorched by flames coming from his motorcycle.
The jury took two hours of deliberation to convict Goldstraw of the four murders.