Man 'tied up' fire death victim
A married man has been jailed for life for killing his girlfriend by tying her up and setting fire to furniture he had piled on top of her.
A judge recommended that 29-year-old Darren Gailey should serve at least 17 years before being considered for release.
Gailey, from Aspley, pleaded guilty to the murder of 27-year-old Michelle Knighton, of Cinderhill Walk, in Bulwell.
Nottingham Crown Court heard she died in hospital on 1 May last year, just over two weeks after the fire at her flat.
Firefighters found her tied up with telephone wire, underneath a chair and a sofa.
The court was told that Gailey had an affair with Ms Knighton before and during his marriage to his wife.
It was said that Gailey had no recollection of the events because he was drunk and had taken cannabis.
Violent assault
Gailey accepted he must have committed the murder - although he said he did not know why.
Judge Richard Pollard said: "It is plain from the evidence that you had assaulted her violently.
"You overcame her with sufficient force to tie her up and make her immobile, it was then you put furniture on top of her in order to set fire to her and in order to kill her."
After the hearing, Michelle Knighton's mother Katrina said she was satisfied with the sentence but said Gailey had deliberately withheld the reasons for killing her daughter.
She said: "That's him all over - a coward's way out."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/engl ... 369921.stm
EDIT: And he gets only 17 years for burning a 27 year old girl alive. Thats the justice system for you. hake: