Tilehurst arsonist to be sentenced today

A Tilehurst man who set fire to a block of flats in December, killing two people, will be sentenced today (Friday).

Hakeem Kigundu, 32, formerly of Rowe Court, set fire to his home at around 3am on December 15.

Mr Kigundu pleaded guilty, on September 20, to two counts of murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm and one count of arson with intent to endanger life.

Two residents of Rowe Court, Richard Burgess, 46, and Neil Morris, 45, were killed.

Thames Valley Police said two other people were seriously injured as a result of Mr Kigundu’s actions.

Mr Kigundu was arrested later the same day, and charged on December 17 last year.

At the time senior investigating officer of the Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit detective inspector Sally Spence said: “Kigundu’s actions were devastating. Because he started a fire, Richard Burgess and Neil Morris have lost their lives, two other people have been seriously injured and all the residents have lost their homes and treasured possessions."

Yesterday (Thursday) PA news agency reported that Mr Kigundu bowed his head in Reading Crown Court so that his face was not visible to the dozens of residents present.

It added that prosecutor Alison Morgan said: "This event had been carefully planned by [Kigundu] in the days and weeks before, including sourcing significant amounts of petrol.

"In a message recorded six days before that attack, he also revealed his hatred of those around him and his desire to cause their deaths."

PA also reported that Joel Richards, a former resident and bus driver who who risked his life to rouse two people before jumping from a second-floor window, said: "At 3am, what happened was terrorism, that’s how I’d describe it. I woke to hear my neighbour Paul shouting: ‘This guy has just set the building on fire’.

“He (Kigundu) started laughing, that’s what got me."

Mr Kigundu's defence lawyer will address Reading Crown Court today (Friday).