Man guilty of fire murders

Drew Affleck was found guilty of murdering three women

A 25-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering three young women by deliberately setting fire to a house.

Drew Affleck, of McKinlay Crescent, Irvine, was also convicted of attempting to murder three other people who only just escaped with their lives.

Anna Teraysa Murray, 18, and Carrie Marie Murray, 12, died after a petrol bombing in Sanderson Avenue, Irvine, on 2 March, 2001.

Amanda Cooper died two months later at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

During the trial evidence was heard suggesting Affleck was trying to "drive" householder Diane Docherty out of the town because of her relationship with John McDougall, who was convicted in 2000 for rape and jailed for 10 years.

It was a truly shocking and terrifying event Norman Ritchie QC

Affleck, who faces three life sentences, was told by the trial judge Lord Hardie: "In view of the verdict you will be aware there is only one sentence.

"I am not in a position to sentence you at this stage until I obtain a report as you have not served a custodial sentence before.

"Be under no illusions, all I will have to decide is the length of time you will serve before you are eligible to apply for parole."

Kayron Murray, 44, the mother of the two sisters who died in the fire, told the jury during the trial: "He told me a couple of weeks after the fire that he didn't murder my weans and no-one knew that Anna Teraysa and Carrie Marie were in the house. It's words which will live with me forever."

Prosecutor Norman Ritchie QC said Affleck and at least one other person were involved in setting the house on fire.

"It was a truly shocking and terrifying event," said Mr Ritchie.

The fire killed three people

Witness Scott Devine was out walking his dog on the morning of the fire and noticed smoke and flames coming from the house.

He was described by Mr Ritchie as "being a hero that morning", helping rescue Ms Docherty, 20, her five year-old daughter Ainsley McDougall and family friend, Alexander Parker, 21.

The three jumped from a top storey window to escape the flames as Mr Devine and other neighbours held out a blanket to break their fall.

Mr Ritchie said: "Scott Devine saw someone running from the scene - that person was Drew Affleck, whom he had grown up with and had known for years."

And he told the jury of a "confession" by Affleck, which the court heard from Vera Wilson, 25, a former girlfriend of Affleck's.

He said: "They had been in bed together a year after a fire, his eyes filled up with water and he told her he did it, he was responsible for the fire. That was a confession."

Affleck had claimed he was in bed in nearby McKinlay Crescent when the fire broke out.

He told the jury: "I had a hangover from drugs I'd taken the day before. I was out of it. I looked out the window and saw flames and bodies being taken out. I went back to bed."

Sentence was deferred until 4 December for background reports and Affleck was remanded in custody.