Steven Craig, 58, inflicted horrendous injuries to Jacqueline Kirk in a car park in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, in April 1998.He was also convicted of a second charge of GBH with intent on a second woman, as well as raping her, and was jailed for life with a minimum term of nine years for the three offences.
Mrs Justice Stacey thanked the jury for their work during the trial, telling them: “By your verdict, you have ensured that justice has been done and there is closure for Ms Kirk’s family. Bristol Crown Court heard a decision was made not to operate on Ms Kirk given her frailty and health problems.Prosecuting, Richard Smith KC told jurors that the severe burns inflicted on Ms Kirk – including to her face, neck, chest, torso, thighs and buttock – played a “significant” part in her death.
Christopher Tehrani KC, defending Craig, told the trial that it was wrong to assert that the scarring explained the rupture Ms Kirk suffered. “The passage of time between the attack and Jacqueline’s death 21 years later made this a highly unusual and challenging case, and meant that approval was needed from the Attorney General to proceed with a prosecution for murder,” he said.