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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Violent history of boss's killer | Violent history of boss's killer |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
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| Russell Carter was able to work as a security van driver in the UK despite an armed robbery conviction in the USA | |
| When Kingsley Monk, the boss of the south Wales valleys-based Driverline 247 recruitment agency, hired Russell Carter as a driver he could not have imagined he was effectively signing his own death warrant. | When Kingsley Monk, the boss of the south Wales valleys-based Driverline 247 recruitment agency, hired Russell Carter as a driver he could not have imagined he was effectively signing his own death warrant. |
| Mr Monk, 45, a company director at the driving agency in New Inn, Torfaen, would have explained to the new recruit the usual policy that if drivers had an accident while on duty, money would be deducted from their pay. | Mr Monk, 45, a company director at the driving agency in New Inn, Torfaen, would have explained to the new recruit the usual policy that if drivers had an accident while on duty, money would be deducted from their pay. |
| It was a claim that Mr Monk owed him unpaid wages that led Carter to douse three co-workers in petrol and hold them hostage while he held a fatal confrontation with his employer in his office. It ended in Mr Monk being strangled to death. | It was a claim that Mr Monk owed him unpaid wages that led Carter to douse three co-workers in petrol and hold them hostage while he held a fatal confrontation with his employer in his office. It ended in Mr Monk being strangled to death. |
| Russell Carter was a 52-year-old father with a history of violence. | Russell Carter was a 52-year-old father with a history of violence. |
| Russell Carter told his trial he had served in the Vietnam war | Russell Carter told his trial he had served in the Vietnam war |
| He was born in Chiselford, near Swindon, Wiltshire, but was brought up in the USA and Canada. | He was born in Chiselford, near Swindon, Wiltshire, but was brought up in the USA and Canada. |
| At the age of 23, he was convicted of armed robbery in the US, an act he repeated six years later in 1985. | At the age of 23, he was convicted of armed robbery in the US, an act he repeated six years later in 1985. |
| He returned to the UK, but in 2008 was convicted of two counts of harassment. | He returned to the UK, but in 2008 was convicted of two counts of harassment. |
| Carter worked in the transport sector, for Arriva Trains and First Bus, and in security for Reliance and Securicor. | Carter worked in the transport sector, for Arriva Trains and First Bus, and in security for Reliance and Securicor. |
| He first made contact with Mr Monk in May 2008, when he went to Driverline 247 looking for a job. | He first made contact with Mr Monk in May 2008, when he went to Driverline 247 looking for a job. |
| Despite having no references, he was employed as a driver by the firm. | Despite having no references, he was employed as a driver by the firm. |
| In the next three months, he had three accidents while driving for Allied Bakeries, but was not financially penalised by the company. | In the next three months, he had three accidents while driving for Allied Bakeries, but was not financially penalised by the company. |
| Then in August, he had another accident while driving for NYK Logistics, for Bailey's Recruitment, possibly while using his mobile. | Then in August, he had another accident while driving for NYK Logistics, for Bailey's Recruitment, possibly while using his mobile. |
| This time, he had £74.75 taken off him. He did not work for the next month. | This time, he had £74.75 taken off him. He did not work for the next month. |
| On 13 September, Carter returned to Driverline 247 looking for more work. The company was short of drivers and agreed to give him more work, and also to give Carter money up front, which was common practice. | On 13 September, Carter returned to Driverline 247 looking for more work. The company was short of drivers and agreed to give him more work, and also to give Carter money up front, which was common practice. |
| I have not only lost my son but my best friend too.. his mother will go to her grave a broken woman Roy Monk, Kingsley Monk's father | I have not only lost my son but my best friend too.. his mother will go to her grave a broken woman Roy Monk, Kingsley Monk's father |
| However the next day, Carter did not turn up for work. Police say Mr Monk left a message on his phone, which Carter's trial later heard said: "Don't be a coward. Answer the phone, you coward". | However the next day, Carter did not turn up for work. Police say Mr Monk left a message on his phone, which Carter's trial later heard said: "Don't be a coward. Answer the phone, you coward". |
| The prosecution said the message had been heard by Carter's daughter, which Carter later berated Mr Monk for while holding him captive. | The prosecution said the message had been heard by Carter's daughter, which Carter later berated Mr Monk for while holding him captive. |
| Prosecutor David Aubrey said: "It appears he must have spent the few days after the call brooding, angry and resentful." | Prosecutor David Aubrey said: "It appears he must have spent the few days after the call brooding, angry and resentful." |
| During those days, Carter was captured on CCTV camera buying hot chocolate jars, and petrol from Tesco. | During those days, Carter was captured on CCTV camera buying hot chocolate jars, and petrol from Tesco. |
| Iron bar | Iron bar |
| At 6am on 20 October, Carter was seen parked in New Inn. | At 6am on 20 October, Carter was seen parked in New Inn. |
| At 8.50am, Gethin Heal arrived at work to find Carter, who threatened him with a gun, tied him, gagged him and placed him upstairs. | At 8.50am, Gethin Heal arrived at work to find Carter, who threatened him with a gun, tied him, gagged him and placed him upstairs. |
| Two more arriving employees, Nathan Taylor and Robert Lewis, were doused in petrol by Carter - poured from the hot chocolate jars he bought days before - and bound. | Two more arriving employees, Nathan Taylor and Robert Lewis, were doused in petrol by Carter - poured from the hot chocolate jars he bought days before - and bound. |
| When Mr Monk arrived, he was tied up and held in a separate room. Mr Lewis, who had a plastic bag over his head and had been hit with an iron bar, tried to escape, prompting Carter to stamp on his head until he was unconscious. | When Mr Monk arrived, he was tied up and held in a separate room. Mr Lewis, who had a plastic bag over his head and had been hit with an iron bar, tried to escape, prompting Carter to stamp on his head until he was unconscious. |
| Carter claimed Mr Monk owed him back pay, and Mr Monk suggested he transfer the money electronically. | Carter claimed Mr Monk owed him back pay, and Mr Monk suggested he transfer the money electronically. |
| Police said Carter forced Mr Taylor to transfer a sum to Carter's wife's account and ordered him to move amounts to other individuals in the company in an effort to cover his tracks. | Police said Carter forced Mr Taylor to transfer a sum to Carter's wife's account and ordered him to move amounts to other individuals in the company in an effort to cover his tracks. |
| Emergency services at Driverline 247 at the time of the killing | Emergency services at Driverline 247 at the time of the killing |
| The hostages told Carter's trial they heard Mr Monk screaming from another room for help, describing the sounds as "haunting". | The hostages told Carter's trial they heard Mr Monk screaming from another room for help, describing the sounds as "haunting". |
| When Carter left, Mr Heal, who was being held in an upstairs toilet, heard the sound of a fire coming from the main office. He managed to get free, and went in, to find Mr Monk's strangled body on the floor. | When Carter left, Mr Heal, who was being held in an upstairs toilet, heard the sound of a fire coming from the main office. He managed to get free, and went in, to find Mr Monk's strangled body on the floor. |
| The senior investigating officer, Det Chief Insp Paul Griffiths, described the incident as an "horrific crime". | The senior investigating officer, Det Chief Insp Paul Griffiths, described the incident as an "horrific crime". |
| "It was a state of chaos", he said describing the murder site. "It was a scene of devastation. | "It was a state of chaos", he said describing the murder site. "It was a scene of devastation. |
| "Thankfully this type of crime is extremely rare. This crime occurred over a four-hour period and put the survivors and Kingsley through a great deal of upset and psychological injury in what they've gone through." | "Thankfully this type of crime is extremely rare. This crime occurred over a four-hour period and put the survivors and Kingsley through a great deal of upset and psychological injury in what they've gone through." |
| Mr Monk's father Roy described him as a devoted family man who always put his two teenage sons and wife Debs first. | Mr Monk's father Roy described him as a devoted family man who always put his two teenage sons and wife Debs first. |
| "He always took the opportunity to spend quality time with Rhys and Matthew. He was honest and dependable and most respected by colleagues, staff and all he met, especially employers whom he met to canvass for new business," he said. | "He always took the opportunity to spend quality time with Rhys and Matthew. He was honest and dependable and most respected by colleagues, staff and all he met, especially employers whom he met to canvass for new business," he said. |
| Mr Monk was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1994 and was only given a 30% chance of survival. | Mr Monk was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1994 and was only given a 30% chance of survival. |
| His father said: "He said he had to survive because he had so much to live for. | His father said: "He said he had to survive because he had so much to live for. |
| "He believed you only got out of life what you put into it. He was a good man who lived his life to the full. | "He believed you only got out of life what you put into it. He was a good man who lived his life to the full. |
| "His death has totally devastated his family and our lives will never be the same again. | "His death has totally devastated his family and our lives will never be the same again. |
| "Speaking as a father, I have not only lost my son but my best friend too. | "Speaking as a father, I have not only lost my son but my best friend too. |
| "His mother will go to her grave a broken woman." | "His mother will go to her grave a broken woman." |