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Minimum 32 years for killer fire family

Meet the Connors, a depraved bunch of animals who collectively set about firebombing a family over a school-bullying row, using petrol poured through the letterbox and set alight.

From left to right; Michael Connor, Jane Connor and Natalie Connor.

Only one of the family who were targeted survived, although she will be scarred for the rest of her life due to the severe injuries sustained during the arson attack.

The Connors were earlier found guilty of the double murder of Alex and Maureen Cochrane and the grevious bodily harm of Lucy Cochrane as well as other charges.

The killer family was jailed for murdering a “decent and honest” couple in a firebomb attack over a school bullying row.

Michael Connor, 40, was jailed for life with a minimum 32-year sentence before parole, after he poured more than a litre of petrol through the letterbox of the home of Maureen and Alex Cochrane, killing the couple in a 1000 degree centigrade “vortex” of flames.

He had been plied with drink and urged on by his ex-wife, Jane, 40, who kept watch as he carried out the attack at 12.30am on the house in Wythenshawe, South Manchester, on January 12 this year.

Both Connors had been found guilty of the double murders after a six-week trial ending last Friday.

Jane Connor was also jailed for life with a minimum of 32 years by Judge David Maddison.

The daughter, Natalie, 18, who made up “entirely false” claims that the Cochranes’ daughter Lucy, 17, had been bullying her at school - prompting the arson attack - was jailed for 11 years after being convicted of two counts of manslaughter.

The family targeted by evil - Alex Cochrane, Maureen Cochrane and sole survivor, Lucy Cochrane.

Jane Connor clung on to the bar of the dock then clapped her hand to her mouth as the 32-year sentence was handed down.

How satisfying to hear the sentence handed down to Jane Connor caused her some distress. It’s unlikely to be remorse or guilt pricking her conscious but at least there was a visible reaction - her surviving victim has the visible and invisible scars to deal with every day for the rest of her life.

Further reading in the Manchester Evening News:

A world apart, the Cochranes and the Connors

How Lucy became the target for bully Natalie

Add comment December 21st, 2006

Boy arrested for opening Christmas present

A South Carolina mother has had her 12-year-old son arrested for opening his Christmas presents early.

The boy was taken into custody after his mother discovered he had entered his great-grandmother’s house and taken presents from their hiding place.

The boy was handcuffed and taken to a local police station on petty larceny charges.

The boy’s mother, Brandi Ervin, told the Associated Press news agency she had acted to teach her son a lesson.

“He’s been going through life doing things… and getting away with it,” she said.

He had repeatedly taken the present, a Nintendo video game console, from its hiding place in his great-grandmother’s house.

How pathetic is that? Here’s a thought from the Soapbox - move the present somewhere else!

Add comment December 8th, 2006