An illegal immigrant from Uganda who set fire to a block of flats in the middle of the night, killing two of his neighbours after he was served with an eviction notice, has been jailed for life by a British court.
Hakeem Kigundu, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm, and one count of arson with intent to endanger life, and on Friday he was sentenced at Reading Crown Court to a whole life sentence, meaning he will never be released.
Judge Justice Holgate said, “I’m sure this was a premeditated attack made by the defendant in revenge.”
The court heard Kigundu was due to be evicted from his flat at Rowe Court in Reading, Berkshire, because of complaints about his anti-social behaviour, including playing loud music.
But in the early hours of Dec. 15, 2021, he poured petrol all over the ground floor communal areas and set it ablaze.
The fire killed Richard Burgess, 46, and Neil Morris, 45, and left two other residents with horrific, life-changing injuries.
Joel Richards suffered third-degree burns and Laura Wiggins suffered a punctured lung, a kidney haematoma, and fractures to her ribs, right arm, and spine.
Kigundu is believed to have entered Britain illegally, using his brother’s passport.
Residents of Rowe Court had complained for several months about Kigundu’s behaviour, especially him playing loud music during the night.
His landlord served him an eviction notice in October and he was due to move out the day before the fire.
‘Experienced Fury Like Never Before’
On Thursday, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC said Kigundu had lost his job as a fibre optic engineer with British Telecom and “experienced fury like never before which he failed to suppress.”The court was played a voicenote message Kigundu recorded six days before the fire in which he ranted and raged about his predicament.
In the voicenote—which he did not send to anyone but was found on his phone by police—Kigundu said: “I want to die with a smile on my face and I shall do so. All the actions I am about to take are warranted, believe me. They all lead to this for a [expletive] who’s persistent. The only cure for a [expletive] who’s persistent is death and I am going to give them that.”
He bought 40 litres of petrol, a long-reach lighter, a sledgehammer, a pair of protective goggles, and a “V for Vendetta mask.”
Kigundu: ‘Something I’m Starting to Regret’
The court also heard a 999 call that Kigundu made in which he said he wanted to turn himself in to police, adding: “Earlier today I did something I’m starting to regret.”He went on to tell the operator, “I don’t know if I had a mini-breakdown but I was just filled with fury.”
Moments later he was arrested by police.
Giving a victim impact statement in court, Richards, who suffered burns to his hands, head, and face and suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of the fire, said: “On December 15, my life changed forever. At 3 a.m., what happened was terrorism, that’s how I’d describe it.”
He said after being woken up by a neighbour he soaked himself with water and then battled through the flames to rouse another resident and his pregnant partner, who managed to escape.
Richard eventually jumped from a second-floor window, and he said when he was outside he saw Kigundu in his car parked outside the building and said he was laughing.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Wiggins said: “Every minute was hell that I never want to experience again. There was a time when I was regretting jumping, thinking I should have died. It really was the worst time of my life both physically and mentally.”
On Friday Kigundu read out a statement in court: “When I say I’m sorry it’s not because I’m getting sentenced today, but because actions speak louder than words. Punishment opens the path to forgiveness and redemption.”
Kigundu added: “According to the Quran, injustice is one of the worst sins we can commit, which is why I pleaded guilty and took full responsibility for my actions.”
His lawyer, Rosina Cottage, said Kigundu had become “isolated” and “paranoid” in the days before the fire and had considered suicide but “decided against it.”
The judge said: “There’s no question of him committing suicide. ... I do not accept that any real remorse has been shown—acceptance of guilt, yes, but not remorse.”
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