Jamie Barrow, the arsonist responsible for the tragic deaths of a mother and her two young daughters in a horrific blaze, has succeeded in his legal battle to shorten his prison sentence.
Barrow, 32, was originally sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 44 years in July last year for the murders of Fatoumatta Hydara, 28, and her daughters, Fatimah and Naeemah Drammeh, aged three and one, respectively, who perished due to smoke inhalation.
The devastating incident unfolded in November 2022 when Barrow, after consuming several cans of lager, poured petrol through the letterbox of their flat in Fairisle Close, Clifton, Nottingham, before setting it ablaze. He callously stood outside, indifferent to the family’s screams as they were trapped inside.
In a recent ruling at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Lord Justice Singh, Mr Justice Jay, and Judge Mayo revised Barrow’s sentence to 38 years, deeming the initial term “manifestly excessive.” They acknowledged the challenging task faced by the sentencing judge but stressed the importance of consistency in sentencing across different cases.
Chris Henley KC, representing Barrow, argued that the original sentence was disproportionate compared to similar cases, a point that the judges found significant.
However, the judges were keen to emphasize their “sincere sympathy” for the victims’ families, reassuring them that the revised judgment did not diminish the gravity of Barrow’s heinous crimes.
During the trial, it was revealed that Barrow, despite never providing a motive, had casually walked away after igniting the fire, having observed the flames for several minutes. Prosecutor Simon Ash KC suggested potential motivations, including Barrow’s discontent over rubbish left in the alleyway, noise disturbances, and a desire for relocation by Nottingham City Council.
In a heart-wrenching victim impact statement, Aboubacarr Drammeh, Mrs Hydara’s husband and the children’s father, expressed his profound anguish and sense of loss, describing his descent into darkness and despair since the tragedy.
Mrs Hydara’s mother, Aminata Dibba, condemned Barrow as a “monster” and a “heartless human being” in her statement to the court, reflecting the enduring pain and devastation inflicted by his actions.
While Barrow’s successful bid for a reduced sentence may have legal implications, the emotional scars left on the victims‘ families serve as a poignant reminder of the irreparable harm caused by such senseless acts of violence.
