Son faces life for killing mother by setting her

A SON has been convicted of murdering his 71-year-old mother by dousing her in petrol and setting her on fire.

Former off-shore worker William Kelly, 42, shouted “die, die” as his mother Cathy Kelly was engulfed in flames.

He is now facing a life sentence.

Following the blaze, Kelly’s only concern was the safety of his West Highland terrier Poppy.

Minutes earlier Kelly had violently punched and kicked his mother leaving her lying face down on the living room floor.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Kelly broke off from the brutal assault to take a phone call which he answered in a silly voice claiming to be a worker in an Indian restaurant.

After finishing the call Kelly went back and further assaulted his defenceless mother – who always referred to him as ‘ma boy.’

Throughout his trial Kelly denied murdering mother at the home they shared at Kilmaurs Road, Kilmarnock, on February 11. He said he had never hit his mother and claimed she had been set on fire by accident.

He told the court he was cleaning a car part in the garage and spilt petrol on his trousers and trainers. Kelly claimed that as he bent over his mother as she lay on the living room floor, he lit a cigarette and there was a blue flash.

But the jury heard that there was no trail of petrol from the garage into the living room. They were also told by a fire expert that if the fire had happened as Kelly claimed he would have been much more badly injured.

Yesterday after deliberating for 90 minutes the jury unanimously convicted Kelly of murdering his mother.

He showed no emotion as he was led away to the cells.

Judge Lady Stacey deferred sentence on Kelly until January 10 next year, in order to obtain background reports.