There are some crimes that are so appalling, so redolent of inhumanity that they take the readers breath away when they encounter them. These crimes are so bad that they can only be described as ‘bestial’ and those who commit such crimes as beasts.

One crime that would certainly meet the description of ‘bestial’ would be the case in Watford, a town just North of London, where an 80 year old woman was set alight in a horrific attack on her.

Two men just set her alight, for no reason that is apparent in the reports of this crime at this time, on the first floor communal area of a block of flats in Watford. One man has apparently been arrested for this crime and remains in police custody. Police are also investigating a separate incident of arson in a nearby block of flats where a flammable fluid was poured through a letterbox although it’s not known at this stage if the incidents are connected.

GB News said:

“A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life in connection with an attempted murder investigation.

The man, from Watford, remains in police custody following the attack on 80-year-old Brenda Raymond.

Ms Raymond was found still alight and suffering horrific burns on the first floor of a communal area of a block of flats in Caractacus Cottage View on Monday afternoon.

The 80-year-old sustained life-threatening injuries, Hertfordshire Police said, and was rushed to hospital.

Ms Raymond remains in a critical condition following the attack.

Police say the investigation is still “very much ongoing” and detectives from the Major Crime Unit (MCU) continue to appeal for witnesses and information.

Detectives believe she was attacked and deliberately set on fire as she returned home.

They also believe flammable liquid was sprayed on her before she was set alight.

Police are also investigating a second incident where accelerant was poured through the letterbox of a nearby property.”

I’m wracking my brains trying to think what would motivate people to go to the extreme extent that they set fire to an elderly woman. Was it a robbery gone wrong? A neighbour or social dispute gone too far? Organised crime? Mistaken identity? There’s all sorts of rumours going around about this crime at the moment, including the victim being targeted for her religion or perceived religion and these rumours have sprung up in part because the public is so horrified with this crime. Whatever the reasoning behind this crime it is indeed a serious and bestial one and one where the perpetrators need to be severely punished.

It’s difficult for me to understand just how much of a screwed up moral compass does someone possess to be able to pour a flammable fluid or similar substance on a old lady’s body and set it alight. I cannot think of any reason why anybody should think that this was an acceptable course of conduct.

However, all crimes and especially crimes where there is murder or attempted murder involved have reasons, no matter how twisted they might be, behind them. Murders and attempted murders have been committed for reasons of greed, jealousy, fear, sexual gratification, politics, religion and so many more.

I doubt very much that we in Britain will hear much in the way of the backstory to this horrific crime until it comes to court when the assailant or assailants of this poor woman appear accused of this crime. We’ll learn then if the victim had a connection with the assailants or if this was a targeted attack or a robbery gone wrong or even if it is another of the random ‘Diversity Enabled Crimes’ that are occurring at depressingly regular intervals. Whatever the twisted reasoning behind his crime I suspect that a great deal will be revealed when the trial occurs. I suspect that if the crime itself has induced public horror then the trial may well do so as well.

Link

GB News story

https://www.gbnews.com/news/watford-arson-attack-man-arrested-brenda-raymond