Man jailed for murdering his brother by setting him on fire on New Year's Day
Girlfriend who narrowly escaped with her life condemns 'cowardly act' that 'stole our future from us'
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A man has been jailed for at least 20 years for murdering his brother by setting him on fire in his bed on New Year’s Day.
Blair Logan poured petrol on his sleeping younger brother, Cameron, as he slept with his girlfriend at their family home in Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire.
He pleaded guilty to murder and the attempted murder of Rebecca Williams, who escaped the blaze with severe injuries.
Logan’s parents were treated for smoke inhalation and the family dog, Gomez, was also killed in the fire.
A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh handed the 27-year-old a life sentence, but reduced the term from 24 years because of Logan’s early plea.
Lady Scott said he “acted with wicked recklessness” to inflict a “horrible death” upon his brother.
The judge accepted representations that Logan had “abnormal personality traits” but said there was no suggestion of a mental disorder that would reduce criminal responsibility for his actions.
Logan admitted pouring petrol “with the intention of maiming or crippling” Cameron, but claimed he did not mean to kill him.
The former Tesco shop assistant first admitted killing his brother during a police interview on 13 January, telling officers: “It was not my intent to kill him but I did do it.”
When charged with the attempted murder of Ms Williams, he claimed he did not know she was in the bed and added: “I did not wish to murder my parents.”
Logan had also admitted endangering the lives of his parents David and Catherine in the blaze.
The court had heard the two brothers had a “hostile” relationship had not spoken to each other since the death of their grandmother in 2013.
The attack was said to be in retaliation for a recent incident at the house when his brother had punched him, while a computer seized from Logan's bedroom showed that he had carried out internet searches on burns victims from October 2016.
In mitigation, defence QC Shelagh McCall said Logan had shown genuine remorse and views the murder of his brother a “horrific” act that cannot be justified. She referred to a letter that his parents had written to the court which said they “find it extremely difficult to reconcile the Blair they know with the Blair who caused Cameron's death”.
Both parents were in the court room in Edinburgh, along with Ms Williams and her family, as the sentence was passed on Friday.
Hundreds of mourners lined the streets to pay their respects to Cameron, a 23-year-old psychology graduate at his funeral in February.
He and his girlfriend had been celebrating the New Year at a house party in Milngavie before returning home in the early hours of the morning.
They fell asleep on an inflatable mattress set up for them in the living room at around 4am, but three hours later Mrs Logan was woken by the family dog whining.
She told the court she went downstairs to see a figure in dark clothing standing inside the living room, holding something on fire that he threw on the bed before fleeing.
Unable to open the living room door, the mother ran out of the house to ask neighbours for help as Ms Williams managed to roll on to the floor and crawl into the kitchen.
Logan’s father attempted to get into the living room but was forced back by the intensity of the smoke and flames, before rescuing Ms Williams with a neighbour.
She suffered burns to her arms and face and damage to her throat, vocal cords and lungs.
Ms Williams has undergone surgery four times and may not be able to return to work as a broadcast journalist due to her injuries.
The 24-year-old described Cameron as a “big personality with a sensitive soul” who was planning to become a police detective.
Outside the court, her father read a statement on her behalf, in which she said: “I find it almost impossible to put into words the devastating impact this cowardly act has had upon me and my family.
“Cameron was my best friend and partner. He was a caring, respectful and loving man, who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
“He had great ambitions to join the police force and was working hard towards building our future together. A future that has now been stolen from us.”
"He had an amazing ability to make people smile and feel good about themselves,” she said earlier this year. "I am so proud to have been his girlfriend. He was the love of my life."
Additional reporting by PA