CARL MILLS'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN COED EVA AND CWMBRAN: TRIPLE MURDER AND FIRE TRAGEDY

In a devastating case that has shocked the communities of Coed Eva and Cwmbran, Carl Mills, a 29-year-old man from Manchester, has been subjected to a significant increase in his minimum prison term following a brutal act of arson that resulted in the deaths of three generations of a single family. The Court of Appeal judges, sitting in London, determined that the original 30-year minimum sentence was unduly lenient given the gravity of the crimes committed.

Initially, Mills was sentenced to life imprisonment at Newport Crown Court in July after being found guilty of three counts of murder. The victims included his own infant daughter, Kimberley, who was only six months old, her mother Kayleigh Buckley, aged 17, and her grandmother Kim Buckley, aged 46. The tragic fire occurred in September of the previous year in Cwmbran, South Wales, and was described by authorities as a horrific event that left a deep scar on the local community.

Kimberley, born prematurely at 13 weeks, had just been discharged from hospital and was at home for the first time when the fire broke out. The circumstances surrounding the incident reveal that Mills, who was homeless at the time and living in a tent in the front garden of the family home, had a history of controlling and abusive behavior. He had been banned from seeing Kimberley unsupervised and was known to have a volatile relationship with Kayleigh, whom he had met via Facebook when she was just 15 years old.

On the night of the tragedy, Mills, driven by jealousy and suspicion that Kayleigh was seeing other men, set fire to the house. His actions were premeditated, and he had previously sent threatening texts to his partner, warning, “I will burn your house down.” The fire quickly engulfed the residence, trapping the family inside. Neighbors who heard the screams and saw the flames desperately tried to assist, but the situation was dire. Kayleigh, who was holding her baby Kimberley, refused to abandon her child, despite the danger, and was unable to throw her to safety.

During the trial, evidence emerged that Mills had been involved in grooming Kayleigh from the age of 15, further complicating the case. The social services had previously expressed concerns about his heavy drinking and had restricted his access to Kimberley during her hospital stay. A serious case review has been initiated by the Torfaen safeguarding children board to examine the circumstances leading up to the tragedy.

Following the verdict, the family of the victims issued a heartfelt statement, expressing their grief and the sense of justice served. They stated, “Carl Mills starts a life sentence for three murders but for us, the family and friends of Kim, Kayleigh, and Kimberley, our life sentence started on 18 September last year when three beautiful innocent people were torn from our lives. Our lives are never going to be the same again.”

Solicitor General Oliver Heald, who had requested the Court of Appeal to review Mills’s sentence, emphasized the severity of the crime. He remarked, “It is hard to overstate the seriousness of this crime. Carl Mills murdered three generations of the same family, leaving a chasm of grief. I asked the Court of Appeal to look again at this sentence, as despite it being a life sentence with a minimum of 30 years, Mills denied setting the fire and maintained that stance at trial. I am thankful that the Court of Appeal has today increased his minimum term to 35 years, which I hope offers some reassurance to the public.”

Lord Thomas, presiding over the case, highlighted several “serious” aggravating factors. He pointed out that the murders occurred against a backdrop of controlling and abusive behavior by Mills, with threats made over a period of time, including on the day of the fire. The judge described the act as deliberately setting a fire at a home where the victims were known to be asleep, with the infant Kimberley being particularly vulnerable and helpless. The fact that Mills was responsible for killing his own child was underscored as a particularly heinous aspect of the case.

Lord Thomas also noted the evidence from neighbors, who reported hearing the victims shouting and realizing the severity of their predicament. The neighbors’ testimonies indicated that the victims likely perished in the flames, suffering significant pain and suffering before their deaths. The judge emphasized the brutality of the act and the tragic loss of life, which has left a lasting impact on the community of Cwmbran and beyond.