An arsonist has been found guilty of murdering his own mother in a Southend fatal blaze.
Andrew Wilding, 42, of Southchurch Road, Southend has been found guilty of murdering Elsie Pinder, 66, in the blaze in Southchurch Road, Southend, on July 3 last year.
He was also found of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered. The jury has returned its verdict this afternoon with a majority finding him guilty.
He's due to be sentenced tomorrow at Basildon Crown Court, where the trial was held.
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During the trial prosecutor, Andrew Jackson told the court Wilding set fire to home he shared with his mother, intending to kill her before fleeing the scene to buy a McDonald’s milkshake.
Speaking this afternoon to Wilding Judge Samantha Leigh said: "I will sentence tomorrow and as you have heard there is only one sentence and that's life. The only question is the limit I put on the sentence."
He sat in the dock motionless through today's hearing wearing a white shirt, dark coloured jumper and glasses.
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