Fred Heyworth

Case record: Fred Heyworth

Fred Heyworth, 59, was sentenced to life in prison on May 16, 1997 after being convicted of murdering his four nieces and nephews in an act of revenge against their mother.

The offence

Heyworth poured gasoline through the mail slot of the family’s Southampton home at night and set it ablaze, creating a fireball which turned the house into an inferno. The arson attack killed four children: Terry, 12; Alison, 10; Nicola, eight; and Patrick, six.

The Winchester Crown Court heard about Heyworth’s feelings of anger, jealousy, unhappiness and revenge after his wife, Janette, left him and sought refuge at the home of her sister, Beverley Good. Heyworth was described as irritable, and the court heard that he became obsessed after Janette’s departure. The judge told Heyworth that he intended to burn the house and intended, by the jury’s verdict, to cause really serious harm to the occupants or kill them.

After the attack, the only comfort was stated to be that post-mortem examinations showed the children had been killed by fumes rather than flames. Firefighters, initially beaten back by the ferocity of the blaze, found the bodies of the four children in a back bedroom. Most of the family in the house were sleeping at the time of the attack, but Kelly and Mrs Good saw the petrol being poured through the letterbox and were standing on the stairs when the hall became engulfed in a fireball.

Neighbours had to prevent the distraught parents from trying to get back in the house as Mrs Good screamed for her children.

Investigation

Heyworth attended a Masonic function at which his wife was working behind the bar. Later, when a card went round for guests to sign he wrote: “Fred Heyworth, single.” Heyworth later admitted to detectives that he lit the fire, although he claimed he could remember only going home to bed.

Background

Heyworth, of Southampton, Hampshire, had been depressed and angry after his wife, Janette, left him and moved in with her sister, Beverley Good, and Beverley’s husband, Melvyn. The court was told that Heyworth had become obsessed after Janette’s departure. The court was also told that, after his wife left him, the Good family were described by Heyworth as “scum”.

Victims and affected people

The four children who died were Terry (12), Alison (10), Nicola (eight), and Patrick (six). A daughter, Kelly, 15, survived and saw the petrol being poured through the letterbox and was standing on the stairs when the hall became engulfed in a fireball. Mrs Good and Mr Good were also affected by the attempted murder finding.

Trial

At Winchester Crown Court, a jury of eight men and three women found Heyworth guilty of their murder and of the attempted murder of Mr and Mrs Good and another daughter, Kelly, 15.

Heyworth told the court he thought the Good family had gone away for the weekend and that the house was empty. He said: “I never ever intended to hurt any children, any adults; it’s not in my nature,”.

Heyworth shook visibly as he was found guilty.

Sentencing

Mrs Justice Steel said during Heyworth’s sentencing: “What evil brainstorm prompted you to act as you did we will never know.” The judge told Heyworth: “You perpetrated an act of the very greatest wickedness. Your actions were premeditated and carefully planned. You intended to burn the house. You intended, by the jury's verdict, to cause really serious harm to the occupants or kill them.” The judge sentenced him to life for the death of each child.

The judge also said: “This is a tragedy that will remain with you and with others for a very long time. The consequences ... will live with you for ever.”

Outcome

Heyworth was sentenced to life in prison on May 16, 1997.

Aftermath

Mr and Mrs Good said in a statement after the hearing that they were pleased justice had been done. Their statement said: “However, no punishment will be sufficient for the crime that has been committed. No sentence would compensate or end the loss and suffering felt by us. We love our children and will miss them every day of our lives.” Another statement by Mr and Mrs Good and their daughters, Kelly and Andrea, said: “We are pleased that justice has been done. However, no punishment will ever be sufficient for the crime that has been committed. No sentence imposed would ever compensate or end the loss and suffering felt by us all.”

Mrs Good told police: “The children did not appear, I knew they weren't coming out. I have not got any enemies. I do not know who would want to hurt me and I know my children have never hurt anyone.”

After the hearing, a detective said: “The family will never get over this tragedy.”