Andrew Gorrell, 55, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years for the murder of 82-year-old John Edwards, who died after Gorrell set a wheelie bin on fire outside his home in Wednesbury, West Midlands, in the early hours of May 11 last year. The fire spread to the house, leaving two of Edwards' sons in a coma.
Sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court
Sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Michael Chambers KC described Gorrell as 'a highly dangerous individual' with an interest in fire, noting his previous conviction for arson in 1990. The judge said Gorrell's actions created a 'living nightmare' for the victims and that the impact on the family was 'absolutely horrendous'. Gorrell blinked repeatedly as the sentence was passed.
Details of the attack
Gorrell, from Saltney in Flintshire, North Wales, was found guilty in February of murder, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, and arson with intent to endanger life. On the night of the attack, he was wearing a T-shirt depicting the film Nightmare on Elm Street, in which the central character is burned alive. He had travelled by train from Chester to Wolverhampton, then took a tram to Wednesbury, where he set a number of wheelie bin fires.
The court heard that Gorrell had a long history of alcohol abuse and had been drinking before setting the fatal fire and three other nearby bin fires. Prosecutor Rachel Brand KC told the court that Gorrell had been given a 12-month custodial sentence in 1990 for setting fire to a club while working as a glass collector.
Impact on the family
Mr Edwards died in hospital weeks after the attack. His two adult sons, Carl, 60, and Mark, 57, who were staying at the family home, were left in a coma. The judge said the victim personal statements from family members, including one of Mr Edwards' grandchildren, showed the horrendous impact of the crime.
Judge Chambers told Gorrell: 'No sentence I can impose can put the clock back, nor should it be viewed as an attempt to put a value on a human life. Before Edwards died, he had a horrendous experience. I am afraid I am not persuaded of much remorse or regret in relation to what happened. It was clearly an evil, random attack, the reason for which is not clear.'
Motive unclear
Gorrell did not give evidence during his trial, and the motive for the attack remains unknown. Ms Brand told the jury: 'We don't know why he was wandering around Wednesbury in the middle of the night. We don't know why he decided to set a fire at the home of the Edwards family. Only the defendant can tell you why.'
