Arsonist who killed neighbours loses bid to have whole-life jail tariff reduced

Hakeem Kigundu killed Richard Burgess, 46, and 45-year-old Neil Morris after pouring petrol in the hallways of flats in Reading in December 2021.

Hakeem Kigundu was due to represent himself at his appeal in London, but he refused to attend (Thames Valley Police/PA) (PA Media)

A double murderer who killed his neighbours by setting fire to their flat has lost a bid to have his whole-life sentence reduced at the Court of Appeal.

Hakeem Kigundu killed Richard Burgess, 46, and 45-year-old Neil Morris after pouring petrol in the hallways of Rowe Court in Reading, Berkshire, on December 15 2021.

Kigundu, who is now 33, also seriously injured two others in the blaze, which a judge called a “premeditated attack made by the defendant in revenge”.

The Ugandan national was due to represent himself at his appeal in London, but he refused to attend.

Rejecting the bid in his absence on Wednesday, three judges said that while whole-life orders were “reserved for the most serious and egregious types of murder”, Kigundu’s actions had “quite catastrophic consequences” which “cannot begin to be overstated”.

Lord Justice William Davis, sitting with Mr Justice Murray and Judge Robert Altham said: “There can be little doubt that these offences fall into that category.

“We are confident that it is appropriate to consider his appeal and dismiss it.”

Kigundu was sentenced in October 2022 after admitting two counts of murder, two of causing grievous bodily harm and one of arson with intent to endanger life.

This is somebody who was planning in effect mass murder

Lord Justice William Davis

Reading Crown Court previously heard that Kigundu planned the attack after growing angry over his neighbours’ complaints about his antisocial behaviour and losing his job as a BT engineer in the months before.

He bought 40 litres of petrol, a sledgehammer, and a V For Vendetta mask in the days before the fire and stated his intention to kill his neighbours in a voice note, creating an email address with the words “burn them all”.

Joel Richards, who suffered third-degree burns in the blaze and had to jump from a second-floor window after rousing two other Rowe Court residents, said he saw Kigundu laughing from his car parked outside as the building burned.

Lord Justice William Davis said: “This is somebody who was planning in effect mass murder.”