A man has been found guilty of murdering his ex-partner, who died more than 20 years after he set her on fire.
In 2000, Steven Craig, now 59, was sentenced to life in prison for the assault on Jacqueline Kirk in Weston-super-Mare two years earlier.
Jacqueline suffered 35% burns in the incident and she spent nine months in hospital, including three months in intensive care, before being released.
In August 2019 she died at the age of 61.
A pathologist later carried out a post-mortem examination that recorded her cause of death as a ruptured diaphragm caused in part by burns to her airways and torso.
After a three-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, a jury today agreed with prosecutors that the injuries inflicted by Craig were more than a minimal cause of his death and convicted him of murder. .
Craig, from Brailsford Crescent, York, was taken into custody and will be sentenced in the same court on Wednesday 9 November.
In a media interview, Jacqueline’s daughter Sonna recounted how the family was originally told she would not survive the attack.
He praised the first responders and everyone involved in providing his mother with medical care over the years, saying, “If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have had the extra 21 years and we’re very, very grateful for all the hard work they put into they made”.
She added that Jacqueline’s strong character helped her recover.
“Most people would describe her as stubborn and that’s mostly seen as a negative, but for her it was a very positive thing, it kept her going and made her stronger and led her to be Jackie,” she said.
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Sonna also described how people would stare at her mother and cross the street to avoid her after the assault, but having her dog forced her to go outside.
Her love for her dog, nature and her photography together with the support of her family and her friends led her to regain her confidence “build her life and be herself again ”.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Almond said: “Jacqueline Kirk suffered unimaginable physical and mental injuries at the hands of Steven Craig.
“What he did to her was horrible and had a profound effect on her and her family.
“However, she exceeded the expectations of the doctors and lived another 21 years, during which she saw her children marry and several grandchildren were born.
“While she managed to see many important milestones, her life was still cut short by the injuries caused by Craig and it was only right that he be fully responsible for her.
“The jury agreed with the expert medical evidence that concluded that she would not have died the way she did had she not been for what she did to her by Craig.”
He added: “I would like to thank Jacqueline’s family for their support during our investigation and commend them for the courage and integrity they have shown during this trial.
“No verdict will make up for Jacqueline’s death, but I hope this outcome brings a sense of closure to an incident that has impacted her lives for so long.”
Source: https://wikisoon.com/
