Reading flats fire: Double murderer has sentence appeal dismissed

Hakeem Kigundu was handed a whole-life sentence in October 2022

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

Hakeem Kigundu killed Richard Burgess, 46, and Neil Morris, 45, after starting a fire in Rowe Court in Reading, Berkshire, on 15 December 2021.

He was sentenced in October 2022.

On Wednesday three judges at the Court of Appeal said his actions were sufficiently "serious and egregious", and dismissed the appeal.

Lord Justice William Davis, sitting with Mr Justice Murray and Judge Robert Altham, said Kigundu's actions had "quite catastrophic consequences" which "cannot begin to be overstated".

"There can be little doubt that these offences fall into that category," they said.

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

Richard Burgess and Neil Morris both died in the fire

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 refused to attend.

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.

Reading Crown Court previously heard he 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".

Drone footage showed the extent of the damage caused at Rowe Court

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."