A final insult from the murderer who stabbed his housemate and the man's girlfriend to death in a row over a hot shower: Killer raises his middle finger to victims' families as he is jailed for life

  • Violent grandfather was living with one of his victims when they argued
  • He stabbed man and his girlfriend to death before claiming self-defence
  • Killer was jailed for life today after he was convicted of the double murder
  • He raised his finger at the public gallery as he was handed 30-year term 
Foster Christian has been jailed for life for the murder of his housemate after a row over hot water in a house they were sharing

A lodger who murdered his housemate and the man's girlfriend after a row over hot water has been jailed for life.

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Foster Christian, a 54-year-old grandfather, slaughtered mother-of-three Natasha Sadler-Ellis and fishmonger Simon Gorecki in a horrific knife attack.

Ms Sadler-Ellis, 40, was stabbed in the heart and through her forehead, while 48-year-old Mr Gorecki suffered five wounds, one of which penetrated his lung. Both died at the scene in Canterbury, Kent in March. 

Christian, who grinned as his victims' families' statements were read to court, raised his middle finger to the public gallery today as he was ordered to serve at least 30 years behind bars.

Those gathered in the court's gallery cheered as he was taken down to the cells to start his sentence.

Police released two computerised images of the horrific wounds he inflicted on his victims after Christian was convicted of the two murders.

Christian was also convicted of unlawful violence over the stabbing of Ms Sadler-Ellis's 20-year-old son Connaugh Harris, who later tried to save his mother as she lay dying on the floor.

The row is said to have broken out when lodger Christian turned on a kitchen tap while Mr Gorecki was showering, triggering a change in temperature.

Mother-of-three Natasha Sadler-Ellis (pictured) and Simon Gorecki were stabbed after a row over hot water at the home they were sharing with Christian in Canterbury Kent
Mother-of-three Natasha Sadler-Ellis and Simon Gorecki (pictured) were stabbed after a row over hot water at the home they were sharing with Christian in Canterbury Kent
Christian swore at his victims' families as he was led away to start a life sentence today

When Mr Gorecki told him to turn it off, Christian allegedly told him: 'F*** off you mug'. 

Christian tried to claim he mistakenly killed his two victims while defending himself in an ensuing row, but the jury rejected his claims. 

The court heard there had been 'tensions' in the house before Christian's murderous rampage, which had previously 'spilled over' into physical attacks.

Judge Stuart-Smith told Christian today: 'When you made his shower go cold, Mr Gorecki swore at you and you swore back at him.

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'Drink may have explained why Mr Gorecki didn't leave the argument. Nothing at all begins to justify what you did later. Your allegation Mr Gorecki came at you with a knife was a lie. 

'What you did was way over the top. It was literally a murderous attack. Your evidence that you didn't know you had the knife in your hands was untrue.'

Christian inflicted savage injuries on his victims, driving a knife into he forehead of Ms Sadler
Mr Gorecki was stabbed multiple times in the back while he was being held in a headlock
Christian used this fearsome knife to carry out the attacks in March this year

The judge added: 'What you did went beyond any reasonable bounds of possible self-defence. I don't know if you have ever stopped pitying yourself.

'You have blown apart the mother of Natasha Sadler-Ellis. Natasha's children have lost their mother. Her five-year-old child cried for her mum every night.

'It's no surprise one of her children has suffered from deep depression. He's described as a broken person, smashed into a million pieces.

Naomi Toro, who hid the knife for Christian, was handed a one-year sentence

'Her siblings have lost their sibling. You have put the family through hell on earth and that continues.' 

Speaking after the sentencing, Ms Sadler-Ellis's brother, Steven (CORR) spoke on behalf of the family and called for the death penalty.

'Although justice has been done in the eyes of the law we will never get over it. Foster Christian is a complete and compulsive liar and has committed a brutal, heinous crime.

'We are glad the jury saw through his lies and deceit. He has shown no remorse and constantly grinned at all the families during this gruelling trial.

'We truly believe the death penalty should be reinstated in this country for such horrific crimes. We are not happy with the sentences passed on the two women and will be appealing.'

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Christian's accomplices Naomi Toro and Samantha Groombridge were also sentenced after the pair helped hide the murder weapon.

Naomi Toro, 36, who took the bloody knife from the murder scene has been jailed for a year but will only serve half her sentence before being released on licence.

Groombridge, 18, was jailed for ten weeks.

 

 

 

 

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