Grandson's Heartbreaking Testimony
Phillip Edwards bravely stood in the witness box at Wolverhampton Crown Court to confront Andrew Gorrell, the man convicted of murdering his grandfather, John Edwards. In a powerful statement, Phillip told Gorrell: 'You crept into our lives in the dark of the night and changed us forever. We still don't know why you chose our family home.'
Gorrell, 55, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 25 years on Monday, July 6, for the murder of 82-year-old John Edwards. The attack was described as 'utterly random' – Gorrell did not know John or his family.
The Arson Attack
In the early hours of May 11, 2025, Gorrell set fire to a wheelie bin outside John's home in Monway Buildings, Holyhead Road, Wednesbury. He then moved the burning bin to the front door, blocking any escape. John, who was asleep inside, suffered severe injuries and died in hospital weeks later.
John's wife Doreen and their adult sons Carl and Mark were also in the house at the time but survived. Gorrell denied murder and other charges but was convicted by a jury in February 2026. He had admitted an alternative charge of manslaughter, which the Crown rejected.
Family Devastation
In court, Phillip described his grandfather as 'wonderful' and 'loving,' saying: 'He was always there when needed. He believed in looking after the people he loved and cared for. John was loved by everyone.' The family lost everything in the fire, including treasured photographs, and did not have home insurance.
Phillip recalled the 'gut-wrenching' call informing him his grandfather was in hospital. He added: 'My birthday was the day after the fire. I don't envisage a future where I will ever want to celebrate that day anymore.' Fighting back tears, he said: 'We haven't just lost our grandad, we have lost our best friend.'
Prosecutor Rachel Brand KC took over reading Phillip's statement when he became too emotional. The statement read: 'John still had much life left to live, even in his late age.' It also revealed that after the fire, the empty house was targeted by thieves who ransacked John's shed, stealing hundreds of pounds worth of belongings.
Impact on the Family
Phillip's statement continued: 'To you, Andrew Gorrell, our family home was just a house. It was an opportunity for a bit of fun, an opportunity to destroy something that was not yours. You ignited that fire without a care in the world, without consideration for the family that you injured that night. You let that fire start, watched and then walked away without a second thought. This act of violence did not just cause a death, it caused a total collapse.'
He added: 'We live in a state of constant anger, sadness and trauma. This nightmare is now our reality. He was the person who anchored our family and he was taken too early. We don't just miss John, we are haunted by the life that was stolen from him. This act of violence did not just stop one heart from beating, it stopped all of ours.'
Other Arson Charges
In addition to the murder, Gorrell pleaded guilty to three counts of arson for separate bin fires he set in Wednesbury hours after the fatal fire – near the Lord Nelson pub, outside Amigos Pizza, and in The Shambles. He was also convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Doreen and Mark Edwards, and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to Carl Edwards.
