Latest news with #DaleFrancis
BBC News
22-05-2025
- BBC News
Pair jailed for life for arson attack on Wolverhampton home
Two men have been jailed for life for murdering a man and severely injuring his mother in an arson attack on their Wolverhampton family of victim Akashdeep Singh described the incident last June as "pure evil", adding the attack was meant for someone else and had left the family with "unimaginable" pain and Tatters and Dale Francis were given respective minimum terms of 34 and 36 years for murder and three counts of attempted murder at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Singh, who was trapped upstairs in the fire but managed to call emergency services, later died in hospital Tatters, 26, of no fixed address, was captured on CCTV smashing a bay window at the home in Plascom Road, East Park, before using petrol and a lighter to engulf the living room in 37, from Basford, Stoke-on-Trent, acted as a driver and look out, jurors of Mr Singh's brothers managed to escape by jumping out of a first floor window. Four other family members, including a 16-year-old boy, were injured in the blaze. The family said they could find no reason why they had been targeted. Mr Justice Wall told the court he could not say whether or not the men had "identified the wrong house" and had intended to kill other the pair's "appalling criminality" had ended the life of Mr Singh and had a "catastrophic" effect on his family, he the pair, the judge told them: "I am sure you intended to kill anyone who found themselves in the house at the time of the fire."The trauma Mr Singh's mother endured included being given CPR for 35 minutes before she could be taken to spent almost three months in intensive care and had part of her leg men put other lives at risk, including those of neighbours and firefighters, the judge said, telling the pair he had considered imposing whole life sentences. In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Singh's family said the fire was an act of "pure evil".The statement, read by prosecutor Mark Heywood KC, said: "On the 25 of June 2024 our whole life changed as a family."Within minutes everything had turned to ashes."Mr Singh "had a lot of dreams and goals for the future, including marriage and children, but this has been snatched away from him and us because of the fire."They added: "This fire was meant for someone else. But we will have to live with the consequences of this fire forever."
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Pair who murdered 26-year-old in 'appalling' arson attack are jailed for total of 70 years as victim's relatives condemn their 'pure evil'
Two men who murdered a 26-year-old 'beloved son' in an arson attack have been jailed for a total of 70 years. Daniel Tatters and Dale Francis were filmed by a security camera as they used petrol and a lighter to start a fire at the home of 26-year-old Akashdeep Singh. They began by smashing and removing a bay window before setting the living room alight. Tatters, 26 and Francis, 37, were handed respective minimum terms of 34 and 36 years for murder and three counts of attempted murder following a three-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court. The pair were told during sentencing by Mr Justice Wall that their 'appalling criminality' had ended the life of Mr Singh and had a 'catastrophic' effect on his family. It comes after jurors were played footage in court of CCTV that showed Tatters, of no fixed address, setting the fire while Francis, of Basford, Stoke-on-Trent, acted as a driver and look-out at the scene. Both were unanimously convicted of murder, arson with intent to endanger life and attempted murder on Tuesday after jurors deliberated for more than nine hours. Jailing the pair today for life, the judge told them: 'The family are now all traumatised by the death of Akashdeep Singh. 'I am sure you intended to kill anyone who found themselves in the house at the time of the fire.' Mr Singh died in hospital hours on from the fire after being trapped upstairs at his home in East Park, Wolverhampton. As well as killing Mr Singh, the judge said the two defendants had caused injuries to his mother which saw her spend almost three months in intensive care and forced the amputation of part of her leg. A lighter discovered by fire crews near the bay window was found to have Tatters's DNA on it while phone records, an in-car tracking device and other CCTV footage linked Francis, of Basford, Stoke-on-Trent, to the attack. Tatters told jurors he had never been to Wolverhampton and had cut his hand on a glass pane while falling over in his garden. The judge told Tatters and Francis: 'She had to be given CPR for 35 minutes at the scene before she could be taken away to hospital.' After telling both men they had put other lives at risk, including those of neighbours and firefighters who entered the property to rescue family members, the judge said he had considered but decided against imposing whole life sentences. The judge added he could not say whether or not the men had 'identified the wrong house' and had instead intended to kill other people. Seconds later a huge flash of white light can be seen as the property goes up in flames In a victim impact statement read to the court prior to sentence, Mr Singh's family said the fire was an act of 'pure evil' meant for someone else which had left a normal family with 'unimaginable' pain and suffering. The statement, read to the court by prosecutor Mark Heywood KC, said: 'On the 25th of June 2024 our whole life changed as a family. 'Within minutes everything had turned to ashes.' Before going to bed, the statement said, family members had been talking about a forthcoming family trip to India but had woken to 'horrors that are unimaginable and difficult to describe'. The family could think of no reason why anyone would wish to harm them and regarded what had happened as 'pure evil' which had taken the life of a 'happy, loving and innocent' soul. Mr Singh's family added: 'He had a lot of dreams and goals for the future including marriage and children. 'But this has been snatched away from him and us because of the fire. 'Losing Akashdeep has left a void that will never be filled. We still can't believe he's gone - not in a humane way but by being murdered. 'We are just a normal family. This fire was meant for someone else. But we will have to live with the consequences of this fire forever.'
The Independent
22-05-2025
- The Independent
Pair jailed for life for murdering 26-year-old man in ‘pure evil' arson attack
Two men have been jailed for life for launching a 'pure evil' arson attack on a family home, killing a 26-year-old man and leaving his mother with life-changing injuries. Daniel Tatters and Dale Francis were handed respective minimum terms of 34 and 36 years for the murder of Akashdeep Singh and three counts of attempted murder. A three-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Tatters was filmed by a security camera as he smashed and removed a bay window at the home of Mr Singh, before using petrol and a lighter to engulf the living room in flames. Tatters, 26, and Francis, 37, were told by Mr Justice Wall that their 'appalling criminality' had ended the life of Mr Singh and had a 'catastrophic' effect on his family. Jailing the pair, both from Stoke-on-Trent, for life on Thursday, the judge told them: 'The family are now all traumatised by the death of Akashdeep Singh. 'I am sure you intended to kill anyone who found themselves in the house at the time of the fire.' Mr Singh died in hospital hours after the fire after being trapped upstairs at his home in Plascom Road, East Park, Wolverhampton. As well as killing Mr Singh, the judge said the two defendants had caused injuries to his mother which saw her spend almost three months in intensive care and forced the amputation of part of her leg. The judge told Tatters and Francis: 'She had to be given CPR for 35 minutes at the scene before she could be taken away to hospital.' After telling both men they had put other lives at risk, including those of neighbours and firefighters who entered the property to rescue family members, the judge said he had considered but decided against imposing whole life sentences. The judge also said he could not say whether or not the men had 'identified the wrong house' and had instead intended to kill other victims. Tatters, of no fixed address, was caught on CCTV setting the fire while Francis, of Clare Street, Basford, Stoke-on-Trent, acted as a driver and look-out at the scene. Both were unanimously convicted of murder, arson with intent to endanger life and attempted murder on Tuesday after jurors deliberated for more than nine hours. In a victim impact statement read to the court prior to sentence, Mr Singh's family said the fire was an act of 'pure evil' meant for someone else which had left a normal family with 'unimaginable' pain and suffering. The statement, read to the court by prosecutor Mark Heywood KC, said: 'On the 25th of June 2024 our whole life changed as a family. 'Within minutes everything had turned to ashes.' Before going to bed, the statement said, family members had been talking about a forthcoming family trip to India but had woken to 'horrors that are unimaginable and difficult to describe'. The family could think of no reason why anyone would wish to harm them and regarded what had happened as 'pure evil' which had taken the life of a 'happy, loving and innocent' soul. Mr Singh's family added: 'He had a lot of dreams and goals for the future including marriage and children. 'But this has been snatched away from him and us because of the fire. 'Losing Akashdeep has left a void that will never be filled. We still can't believe he's gone – not in a humane way but by being murdered. 'We are just a normal family. This fire was meant for someone else. But we will have to live with the consequences of this fire forever.'
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Telegraph
Arsonists may have murdered the wrong man
Arsonists may have murdered the wrong man in a 'horrific' attack on a family home, a court heard. A three-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court was told Daniel Tatters was filmed by a security camera as he smashed and removed a bay window at the home of Akashdeep Singh, before using a flammable liquid to engulf the living room in flames. Mr Singh, 26, died after being trapped upstairs by the blaze at his home in East Park, Wolverhampton, which the court heard may have been targeted by mistake. Tatters and Dale Francis, who acted as a driver and lookout at the scene, were both unanimously convicted of murder, arson with intent to endanger life and attempted murder on Tuesday, after jurors deliberated for more than nine hours. CCTV played at the trial showed Tatters, who is from Stoke-on-Trent but of no fixed address, approaching the house carrying a container and hammering out the window before running away as a fireball filled the lounge. Tatters, 26, and Francis, 37, were alleged by prosecutors to have started the fire at about 1am on June 25 2024 'as the outcome of a considered agreement', following several previous journeys to familiarise themselves with the area. A lighter discovered by fire crews near the bay window was found to have Tatters' DNA on it, while phone records, an in-car tracking device and other CCTV footage linked Francis, of Clare Street, Stoke-on-Trent, to the attack. Tatters told jurors he had never been to Wolverhampton and had cut his hand on a glass pane while falling over in his garden. Francis, whose barrister described the consequences of the fire as tragic and horrific, declined to give evidence, claiming in a written statement that he thought his accomplice only intended to 'torch' a car. Opening the case at the start of the trial, prosecutor Mark Heywood KC said the defendants had travelled around 40 miles from Stoke-on-Trent in Francis's Volkswagen Golf. Tatters visited the Royal Stoke University Hospital around two-and-a-half hours after the fire for treatment for cuts to his fingers. CCTV proved Tatters, who was staying at an address in Sneyd Green, Stoke-on-Trent, went on foot to Plascom Road after the Golf was parked in Sutherland Avenue, around a third of a mile away. The footage also showed the driver's door of the Golf being opened minutes before two figures were seen entering East Park, at a location said to be a six-minute walk to Plascom Road. Mr Heywood told the court: 'Their actions make it clear that whichever one of them actually started the fire, each of them shared the intention to murder all the occupants and each assisted and/or encouraged the other to carry that out as planned. 'As to why they went to that house on that night, and as to why they did what they did, these are not matters which the prosecution need to prove. It may never be possible to know why. 'Only the would-be killers or those involved in the enterprise may know that and, for obvious reasons, you may think, they would never reveal it.' Commenting on the inquiry, Jenny Birch, senior investigating officer with the West Midlands Police, said: 'This was a callous and unprovoked attack on people who were asleep in the safety of their own home. 'Our investigation team have worked tirelessly to gather the evidence, which has led to these convictions. Both these men played their part in this tragic event and both are accountable for the awful consequences. 'Whilst we know that nothing will ever bring Akashdeep back, we hope that knowing those involved will answer for the consequences of their actions will provide some solace to his family and friends. 'Our thoughts remain with Akashdeep's family, who continue to try to come to terms with their loss as well as their own injuries.' The defendants were both remanded in custody and will be sentenced by Mr Justice Wall on Thursday.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Two men found guilty of murdering 'precious son', 26, in arson attack on family home which was caught on chilling CCTV
Two men who launched a 'horrific' arson attack on a family home which was caught on CCTV and left a 26-year-old man dead have been convicted of murder. A three-week trial was told Daniel Tatters was filmed by a security camera as he smashed and removed a bay window at the home of Akashdeep Singh, before using a flammable liquid to engulf the living room in flames. Mr Singh died in hospital hours later after being trapped upstairs by the blaze at his home in Plascom Road, East Park, Wolverhampton, which the court heard may have been targeted by mistake. Tatters and Dale Francis, who acted as a driver and look-out at the scene, were both unanimously convicted of murder, arson with intent to endanger life and attempted murder today after jurors deliberated for more than nine hours. CCTV played to the trial showed Tatters approaching the house carrying a container and hammering out the window before running away as a fireball, which also left Mr Singhs mother with life-changing injuries, filled the lounge. Tatters, 26, and 37-year-old Francis were alleged by prosecutors to have started the fire at about 1am on June 25 last year 'as the outcome of a considered agreement' following several previous journeys to familiarise themselves with the area. A lighter discovered by fire crews near the bay window was found to have Tatters's DNA on it, while phone records, an in-car tracking device and other CCTV footage linked Francis, of Basford, Stoke-on-Trent, to the attack. Tatters, who is also from Stoke-on-Trent but of no fixed address, told jurors he had never been to Wolverhampton and had cut his hand on a glass pane while falling over in his garden. Francis, whose barrister described the consequences of the fire as tragic and horrific, declined to give evidence, claiming in a written statement he thought his accomplice only intended to 'torch' a car. Opening the case at the start of the trial, prosecutor Mark Heywood KC said the defendants had travelled around 40 miles from Stoke-on-Trent in Francis's Volkswagen Golf. Tatters visited the Royal Stoke University Hospital around two-and-a-half hours after the fire for treatment for cuts to his fingers. CCTV proved Tatters, who was staying at an address in Sneyd Green, Stoke-on-Trent, went on foot to Plascom Road after the Golf was parked around a third of a mile away. The footage also showed the driver's door of the Golf being opened minutes before two figures were seen entering East Park at a location said to be a six-minute walk to Plascom Road. Mr Heywood told at Wolverhampton Crown Court: 'Their actions make it clear that, whichever one of them actually started the fire, each of them shared the intention to murder all the occupants and each assisted and/or encouraged the other to carry that out as planned. 'As to why they went to that house on that night, and as to why they did what they did, these are not matters which the prosecution need to prove. It may never be possible to know why. Seconds later a huge flash of white light can be seen as theproperty goes up in flames 'Only the would-be killers or those involved in the enterprise may know that, and for obvious reasons, you may think, they would never reveal it.' The defendants were both remanded in custody and will be sentenced by Mr Justice Wall on Thursday. Following his death, Mr Singh's relatives paid tribute to a 'kind, helpful, and deeply religious person'. They added: A true hero, our precious son, whose boundless kindness, infectious laughter, and unwavering love filled our lives with immeasurable joy; his memory will forever be cherished, and the depth of his absence is profoundly felt every single day.'
