Son jailed for murdering mother by setting fire to her

● Shouted ‘die, die’ as victim burned to death after attack

A son has been jailed for a minimum of 23 years for 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.

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.

After deliberating for 90 minutes, the jury at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday unanimously convicted Kelly of murdering his mother.

Jailing Kelly for life, judge Lady Stacey said: “I understand you maintain your denial of the crime and have shown no remorse.

“I also note from having heard the evidence that you said a few weeks after your mother’s death you did what you had to and she deserved what she got.”

Earlier, jurors heard that Kelly broke off from the brutal assault to take a phone call which he answered in a silly voice claiming to be an Indian restaurant.

After finishing the call, Kelly went back and further assaulted his mother.

Throughout his trial Kelly denied murdering his mother at the home they shared at Kilmaurs Road, Kilmarnock, on 11 February, 2017.

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 more badly injured.

The court heard that Kelly was angry because his mother had embarrassed him at a 21st birthday party by drinking too much. He ordered his mother and his then partner, Eleanor Banks, to leave and called a taxi.

When they returned home around 11pm he dragged his mother by the arms into the house after she fell as she got out the taxi.

Kelly then punched and kicked the pensioner on the head and body in the living room of their home.