Samuel Church, 37, from Acacia Avenue, Spalding, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after attempting to cover up a murder by setting fire to his victim’s home. He must serve a minimum of 20 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Initially, Church pleaded not guilty to the murder of 52-year-old Vincent Markham and the arson charge at Lincoln Crown Court. However, just before the trial began in February last year, he changed his plea to guilty for both charges.
The sentencing was originally scheduled for May but was postponed when Church attempted to withdraw his guilty plea. In October, a judge at Warwick Crown Court rejected this application, closing the matter.
Vincent Markham died from severe facial and head injuries sustained in an assault. Church appeared with burn injuries near the Broadgate junction, claiming he had tried to rescue someone from the fire. After receiving hospital treatment, he was arrested and charged with murder and perverting the course of justice.
On Friday 19 January, Lincoln Crown Court sentenced Church to 20 years for murder, with an additional concurrent 45-month sentence for perverting the course of justice.
Detective Inspector Adrian Czajkowski of East Midlands Police stated that the investigation confirmed Church’s guilt beyond doubt. He added that the brutal attack and subsequent arson have deeply affected the local community.
Originally published by UKNIP.
