Victor Castigador

Case record

Victor Castigador was an illegal immigrant who came to Britain from the Philippines in 1985. He was jailed for life in 1990 for murdering two Sri Lankan security guards during a robbery at a Soho amusement arcade where he himself worked.

Background

Castigador entered the UK illegally in 1985. He eventually got a job at an amusement arcade in Soho, London. Although he continued to work there, he and the arcade's proprietor developed a rift. Castigador, feeling a grudge, decided to concoct a plan to rob the arcade.

Castigador led an infamous grudge attack on an amusement arcade in London which burned two security guards to death and badly injured two other people. With two other men, he tied up the guards and the female cashier.

Castigador was born in the Philippines in 1954. His teenage accomplice was Paul Clinton.

The offence

In the late hours of August 2nd, 1989, Castigador broke into the arcade with four younger accomplices. The arcade had just closed. The relief manager and cashier were going through the evening's takings when guns were pointed at their heads. The safe was duly emptied of cash.

The manager and cashier, along with two security guards from Sri Lanka, were then forced at gunpoint into the inner cage of the arcade's security vault. Three of the robbers withdrew at this point, but Castigador and teenage accomplice Paul Clinton stayed behind.

They tied the hostages up, poured white spirit over them, and tossed in lit matches before leaving, locking the door behind them.

Investigation and arrest

The two security guards died of burns and asphyixiation. The manager and cashier were still alive and badly injured, with 30 per cent burns, when more staff arrived the next morning and raised the alarm.

They identified Castigador as the chief culprit. Castigador was arrested, along with Clinton and three others.

Trial

Both men went on trial in February 1990. They were convicted of two murders, two attempted murders and one charge of robbery.

Sentencing

Castigador was given a minimum recommendation of 25 years by the judge. This was later amended by the Home Secretary, who informed him that he would not be released alive under the terms of a whole life tariff.

Clinton, whose youthfulness was taken into account, was given a 20 year tariff.

Three other people were also jailed.

Appeals and legal developments

Clinton appealed against the length of his tariff in 2003 but this was rejected.

The European Court of Human Rights later ruled that whole life tariffs were unlawful if passed by a politician rather than a member of the judiciary. Castigador could be freed under his original tariff in 2015, but it was regarded as inconceivable that he will ever be released.

Outcome and after effects

Castigador remains in prison to this day, even though the European Court of Human Rights later ruled that whole life tariffs were unlawful if passed by a politician rather than a member of the judiciary.