This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/staffordshire/6106498.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Man jailed for four fire murders | Man jailed for four fire murders |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An "obsessive loner" has been jailed for life for killing his ex-girlfriend, two young children and a man in a fire. | An "obsessive loner" has been jailed for life for killing his ex-girlfriend, two young children and a man in a fire. |
| Mark Goldstraw used petrol to blow up the home in revenge after he was dumped by girlfriend Samantha Carter, 16. | Mark Goldstraw used petrol to blow up the home in revenge after he was dumped by girlfriend Samantha Carter, 16. |
| Her sister Patricia, 10, their brother Marcus, seven, and their mother's partner Roddy Hine also died. | Her sister Patricia, 10, their brother Marcus, seven, and their mother's partner Roddy Hine also died. |
| Goldstraw, 31, who will serve at least 35 years, was on licence after being released early from a jail term for the manslaughter of a previous girlfriend. | |
| He set fire to the house while the three children and Mr Hine slept, Staffordshire Crown Court heard. | He set fire to the house while the three children and Mr Hine slept, Staffordshire Crown Court heard. |
| Goldstraw waited until his four victims had gone to bed | Goldstraw waited until his four victims had gone to bed |
| The children's mother Amanda Carter was out at work and not in the house at the time. | The children's mother Amanda Carter was out at work and 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. | 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." | "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 had killed before when he beat his former lover Deborah Wheatley with a mallet in 2001 after she refused to leave her husband for him. | Goldstraw had killed before when he beat his former lover Deborah Wheatley with a mallet in 2001 after she refused to leave her husband for him. |
| I have nightmares when all I see is my children screaming for help Mark Carter, father | I have nightmares when all I see is my children screaming for help Mark Carter, father |
| He had been on licence after being released early from a seven-year jail term. | He had been on licence after being released early from a seven-year jail term. |
| The Probation Service said Goldstraw had been complying with his licence in the 18 months before the fire. | The Probation Service said Goldstraw had been complying with his licence in the 18 months before the fire. |
| 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 describing 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 describing 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. |
| Police said the house was one of their most challenging scenes | Police said the house was one of their most challenging scenes |
| "Mark Goldstraw is an extremely dangerous man," he said. | "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. | "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 stomach rejection. He now has the deaths of five people on his hands." | "Goldstraw seems to be a loner, an obsessive who simply cannot stomach rejection. He now has the deaths of five people on his hands." |
| Richard Hine, the brother of Mr Hine, said his family could not understand why he had died. | Richard Hine, the brother of Mr Hine, said his family could not understand why he had died. |
| "Goldstraw had killed before, we are angry that he was able to go on and kill again. If lessons are not learnt five lives will have been lost in vain," he said. | "Goldstraw had killed before, we are angry that he was able to go on and kill again. If lessons are not learnt five lives will have been lost in vain," he said. |
| However, the Probation Service said a review showed its procedures regarding Goldstraw had been correct. | However, the Probation Service said a review showed its procedures regarding Goldstraw had been correct. |
| Spokesman Rob Mandley said: "I'm satisfied that from the information that we had during this case that the probation service would not be able to have prevented this terrible, dreadful crime that happened." | Spokesman Rob Mandley said: "I'm satisfied that from the information that we had during this case that the probation service would not be able to have prevented this terrible, dreadful crime that happened." |