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Man guilty of four fire murders Man guilty of four fire murders
(20 minutes later)
A man has been jailed for life after he murdered four people in a fire when he was dumped by his teenage girlfriend.A man has been jailed for life after he murdered four people in a fire when he was dumped by his teenage girlfriend.
Marcus Carter, seven, his sisters Samantha, 16, and Patricia, 10, and Roddy Hine, 44, died in the fire and explosion in Cheddleton in March.Marcus Carter, seven, his sisters Samantha, 16, and Patricia, 10, and Roddy Hine, 44, died in the fire and explosion in Cheddleton in March.
Goldstraw, of Compton House, Leek, who has a previous manslaughter conviction, will serve at least 35 years.Goldstraw, of Compton House, Leek, who has a previous manslaughter conviction, will serve at least 35 years.
His trial heard the 31-year-old started the fire in a revenge attack after Samantha ended their relationship.His trial heard the 31-year-old started the fire in a revenge attack after Samantha ended their relationship.
He used petrol to set fire to the house while the three children and their mother's partner slept, Staffordshire Crown Court heard.He used petrol to set fire to the house while the three children and their mother's partner slept, Staffordshire Crown Court heard.
The children's mother Amanda Carter was on a night shift at work so was not in the house at the time.The children's mother Amanda Carter was on a night shift at work so was not in the house at the time.
Marcus Carter, Patricia Carter and Samantha Carter died in the fire
Goldstraw killed the four family members just 18 months after being released from prison, where he served a sentence for the manslaughter of his former lover Deborah Wheatley in 2001.Goldstraw killed the four family members just 18 months after being released from prison, where he served a sentence for the manslaughter of his former lover Deborah Wheatley in 2001.
He beat her around the head with a mallet when she decided not to leave her husband for him, the trial was told.He beat her around the head with a mallet when she decided not to leave her husband for him, the trial was told.
After Goldstraw's jailing on Wednesday, the children's father Mark Carter said in a statement he should stay locked up for the rest of his life and described Goldstraw as the "lowest of the low". Outside court on Wednesday, the children's father Mark Carter said in a statement Goldstraw should stay locked up for the rest of his life and described him as the "lowest of the low".
He said: "My life has been turned upside down. Now I can hardly sleep at night. I have nightmares when all I see is my children screaming for help."
Det Ch Insp Dave Garrett, who investigated the murders, said the scene at Hillside Road was one of the most challenging ever encountered by Staffordshire Police.
"Mark Goldstraw is an extremely dangerous man. He waited until his four victims had gone to bed before letting himself into the house, dousing the hallway with petrol and setting it alight.
"Goldstraw seems to be a loner, an obsessive who simply cannot stand rejection. He now has the deaths of five people on his hands."