Murder Trial Hears Details of Fatal Arson Attack on Wednesbury Home
A murder trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court has heard disturbing details of what prosecutors describe as a random arson attack on a family home in Wednesbury that resulted in one death and multiple injuries.
The Fatal Incident
The court heard that Andrew Gorrell, 54, from Saltney in Flintshire near the English-Welsh border, allegedly travelled approximately 70 miles before setting fire to a wheelie bin and moving it to the front door of a property in Monway Buildings, Holyhead Road, Wednesbury, in the early hours of May 11, 2025.
Prosecutor Rachel Brand KC told jurors that 82-year-old John Edwards suffered severe burns in the blaze and died in hospital two weeks later. His wife Doreen Edwards, 81, and their two sons Carl, 60, and Mark Edwards, 57, were also injured but survived the attack.
Distinctive Clothing and Movements
Ms Brand described how Gorrell was wearing distinctive clothing during the incident, including a Chicago Bulls jacket and a T-shirt bearing the name of the horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street. She noted to the jury that the film features a character who is burnt to death in a fire.
The court heard detailed CCTV evidence tracing Gorrell's movements on the night in question:
- He was captured at a Wolverhampton tram stop at 12.40am before travelling to Wednesbury Parkway
- He was seen in Holyhead Road between 1.15am and 1.20am
- He was observed wandering in and out of the driveway of Dovedale Court care home opposite the Edwards family home
- A night worker asked him to move on from the care home area
- He was later seen on camera at Holyhead Primary Academy, also opposite the family home
The Attack and Aftermath
According to the prosecution, Gorrell remained in the area for over an hour before allegedly moving the wheelie bin to the front door of the Edwards family home and setting fire to its contents. A neighbour spotted the fire at approximately 3.06am and dialled 999, with firefighters rescuing the family from the burning property.
After the fatal blaze, Gorrell was captured on CCTV at an Esso petrol station in Bilston Road where he reportedly told a cashier he was stranded and asked if he could wait inside because it was freezing. He later set three additional fires in refuse bins in Wednesbury town centre.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Andrew Gorrell denies one count of murder, two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent relating to Doreen and Mark Edwards, and one count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent relating to Carl Edwards.
The court heard that Gorrell has admitted an alternative charge of manslaughter, but this was not accepted by the Crown. He also denies one count of arson with intent to endanger life but admitted an alternative of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Prosecutor Rachel Brand KC told the jury: He has admitted that he set the fire. He says I was only being reckless when I was doing that and we say no, you intended to endanger the lives of other people in there, intending they would be seriously hurt.
Ms Brand emphasised that the prosecution does not suggest Gorrell intended to kill the occupants but argues his actions demonstrate intention to cause serious injury, which constitutes murder under English law if death results from those injuries.
No Known Connection to Victims
The court heard that Gorrell appears to have no known links to the Edwards family, their home, or the Wednesbury area. Prosecutors described the attack as seemingly random, with the defendant having travelled a considerable distance before committing the alleged offences.
The trial continues at Wolverhampton Crown Court as jurors consider the evidence in this complex and tragic case.
