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In this episode, I tell the story of Catherine Kelly, a 71-year-old woman killed in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, on February 11, 2017.
Catherine had spent that Saturday evening attending a 21st birthday party with her 41-year-old son William Kelly and his partner Eleanor Banks. Within minutes of the three arriving back home, a fire broke out, which resulted in Catherine's death.
It was soon revealed that Kelly had deliberately set the fire with the intention of killing his mum after first beating her up.
A jury at Glasgow High Court found Kelly guilty of murder in November 2017. Judge Lady Stacey handed him a life sentence with a minimum term of 23 years.
Intro music:
David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'
linktr.ee/davidjohnbradymusic
References:
Boyle, L. (2017, December 25). Sickened ex of fire maniac who torched elderly mother in Kilmarnock home claims monster is like Norman Bates. The Scottish Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/2014011/ex-fire-torched-elderly-mother-norman-bates-cathy-kelly-william-kelly/
Cameron, L. (2018, January 16). Kilmarnock fire monster who doused mum in petrol and burned her alive with lit cigarette jailed for life. The Scottish Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2099357/monster-william-kelly-jailed-for-life-kilmarnock-murder-mum-petrol-burned-alive/
Forsyth, L. (2017, February 12). Elderly victim of Kilmarnock house fire murder is named. Glasgow Times. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/15086985.elderly-victim-of-kilmarnock-house-fire-murder-is-named/
Gates, P. (2017, March 7). Cops probing Kilmarnock fire that killed Cathy Kelly ‘following positive line of inquiry.’ The Scottish Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/574592/cops-probing-kilmarnock-fire-that-killed-cathy-kelly-following-positive-line-of-inquiry/
Grandmother killed as home ‘targeted’ in fire. (2017, February 13). The Herald. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15087879.grandmother-killed-home-targeted-fire/
Grandmother’s death “stuff of nightmares.” (2017, December 13). BBC News. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-42342529
Gray, R. (2017, February 14). Blaze murder victim Cathy Kelly’s Ayrshire home ‘may have been torched from inside.’ The Scottish Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/582287/blaze-murder-victim-cathy-kellys-ayrshire-home-may-have-been-torched-from-inside/
Hyland, J. (2023, January 29). Scots killer set his mum on fire months after her will was changed in his favour. Daily Record. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scots-killer-set-mum-fire-29075439
Jury told son “accidentally” set his mother on fire. (2017, December 12). BBC News. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-42324819
Kilmarnock Standard. (2017, December 14). Son punched and kicked mum then set her alight shouting “die, die.”The Mirror. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/son-brutally-murdered-mum-punching-11698399
Man denies killing mother by setting her on fire. (2017, November 28). BBC News. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-42155767
Man murdered mother by burning her alive with petrol. (2017, December 14). STV News. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://archive.news.stv.tv/west-central/1404442-man-murdered-mother-by-burning-her-alive-with-petrol.html
McCabe, G. (2017, July 5). Son is accused of murdering elderly mother by dousing her in petrol and setting her on fire in brutal Kilmarnock assault. The Scottish Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/1240938/son-is-accused-of-murdering-elderly-mother-by-dousing-her-in-petrol-and-setting-her-on-fire-in-brutal-assault/
Riley, W. (2017, November 28). Son accused of dousing mum in petrol and setting her on fire in Kilmarnock ‘was left everything in will.’ The Scottish Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/scottish-news/1901499/son-accused-dousing-mum-petrol-setting-fire-kilmarnock-left-everything-will/
Thomas, C. (2017, March 8). Man charged with murdering mum, 71, in horror Kilmarnock house fire appears in court. The Scottish Sun. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/693806/man-charged-murdering-mum-kilmarnock-house-fire/
Video: Man arrested after pensioner dies in Kilmarnock house fire. (2017, March 7). Glasgow Times. Retrieved November 20, 2023, from https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/15138752.video-man-arrested-after-pensioner-dies-in-kilmarnock-house-fire/
