A man who just murdered his neighbour and her two young children was caught on police bodycam footage grinning at the cops and asking "how bad is it?" just minutes later.
Jamie Barrow had just poured petrol through the letterbox of the flat where Fatoumatta Hydara lived with her two daughters Fatimah Drammeh, 3, and Naeemah Drammeh, 1, in Clifton, Nottingham last November.
He was then seen out walking his dog where he spoke to detectives and smiled widely at them, before going to stand with the other evacuated residents while emergency services tried to help the stricken mum and girls.
The 31-year-old was today found guilty of three counts of murder after a trial at Nottingham Crown Court.
Prosecutors told the trial that Barrow, who lived in the neighbouring flat, had a "grievance" over rubbish being left in an alleyway and watched the fire take hold while ignoring screams coming from inside.
Little girls Fatimah and Naeemah both died in the blaze and Mrs Hydara, 28, died two days later, with all three succumbing to smoke inhalation.
Barrow had already admitted manslaughter but a jury of seven men and four women unanimously convicted him of murder today after almost seven hours of deliberations.
He was also found guilty of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Bodycam footage from the moment police arrived at Barrow's door to arrest him, saw him tell officers: “I need to tell you something about the fire next door."
He added that he was about to hand himself in before holding out both his hands as if he expected to be handcuffed.
While giving his evidence, Barrow said he "can't explain" why he chose to target the neighbouring flat but had formed the opinion that no one was inside as he had not seen or heard his neighbours in the days leading up to the fire.
He had been suffering from a "very, very low mood" and was "wallowing in self-pity" in the days and hours before his actions, caused partially by his emotionally unstable personality disorder.
He told the court he did not expect the fire to take hold as rapidly as it did and said he was driven to admit what he had done to police officers due to "an immense amount of guilt", telling police: "I need to tell you something about the fire next door."
The jury heard that Barrow found starting fires "cathartic" and gave "zero" consideration to the consequences of his actions, rejecting his assertion that he had not intended to harm anyone when starting the fatal blaze.
Barrow will be sentenced on Friday.
Speaking after the verdict, husband and father Aboubacarr Drammeh said “words cannot quantify” his family’s pain. He read a joint family statement on the steps of the court this afternoon.
He said: “Words cannot quantify how much our family have suffered because of the horrific actions of one man.
“Neither can we quantify the emotional, psychological, physiological and financial impact of the crime Jamie Barrow committed against Fatoumatta, Fatimah and Naeemah.
“His actions were utterly heartless and cruel – and have caused a multigenerational trauma that we will never understand.
“Fatoumatta was a caring daughter, wife, sister, mother and friend. If love and compassion could make a person immortal, she would have lived forever.
“She had a pure heart and was greatly loved for her personality and qualities.
“She was the most incredible mother to Fatimah and Naeemah, two angels who deserved a beautiful childhood and a full life.
“Nottingham and the rest of the world have been denied potential future teachers, civil servants, doctors – who knows what they could have been?
“They lived a short but meaningful life, such was the joy and happiness they brought to us all.”
Speaking following Jamie Barrow’s conviction for murder, Samantha Shallow, head of the Crown Prosecution Service East Midlands complex casework unit, said: “The loss of these three lives is a tragedy for their loved ones and their community.
“The case we have put in front of the jury is that Jamie Barrow wanted to harm someone by setting a fire and three innocent people died as a result.
“There was never any question that this was a case of murder.
“He knew exactly what he was doing and what the consequences would be when he set the fire.
“The community have rightfully demanded justice, and today justice has been served.
“Our thoughts and sincere sympathies remain with those close to Mrs Hydara, Fatimah and Naeemah.”
