Man burns girlfriend to death after she leaves him for his own son (photos)

Ashley Williams, 49, hit Julie Beattie, 24, over the head with a hammer before he doused her in a mixture of petrol and diesel fuel

A jealous father-of-twelve who burned his 24-year-old lover to death when she tried to leave him for his 18-year-old son has been jailed for life. 

Ashley Williams, 49, hit Julie Beattie, 24, over the head with a hammer before he doused her in a mixture of petrol and diesel fuel.

She managed to stagger out of her home in flames like a ‘zombie' and gasp: ‘Ashley did this to me', before collapsing. 

She later died of horrific injuries, a trial at the Old Bailey heard.

Two children aged four and five witnessed the murder and became the youngest witnesses to give evidence at a murder trial.

Her sister Lucie Beattie described arriving at their south London home to see Williams put on his coat and walk out as Ms Beattie burned, screaming, behind him.

He carried out the attack in revenge because the mother of his four children was packing her bags to live with his son Ashley jnr from a previous marriage.

The court heard Miss Beattie had been seeing her partner's son, Ashley Williams Jnr (pictured), 18

He claimed that he had thought he was involved in a 'water fight' and that she had been throwing the fuel at him  - but he had no idea how she actually became ignited.

But he was convicted of murder at the Old Bailey by a jury of six men and six women.

He showed no emotion as the verdict was announced while the victim’s family wept and clutched each other’s hands. 

He was jailed for life and told he must serve minimum of 25 years before being considered for release.

ulie Beattie, 24, was on fire when her sister Lucie arrived at the south London home, the Old Bailey heard. Julie's 49-year-old lover Ashley Williams allegedly doused her in petrol and set her alight.

In a statement read to the court Julie’s mother Linda Beattie said she has been ‘completely destroyed’ by his ‘incomprehensible wickedness’.

Ms Beattie described her daughter as ‘beautiful, bubbly, caring and engaging’ and she said her death has devastated the family.

She said the victim was a ‘large ball of positive energy, cheeky and mischievous at times and selfless’.

‘It’s like a horrible nightmare coping with this utterly incomprehensible wickedness,’ she added.