Killer’s family home fire-bombed with two children asleep inside

A doorbell camera captured the horrifying moment two men “fire-bombed” a family home, pouring flammable liquid through the letterbox before smashing the front window with a brick and setting it alight. The terrible incident happened in Fincham, Liverpool, on July 5 this year, whilst two adults and two young children were inside the property. Miraculously, the children were not ill or injured in the incident – though an adult man did require treatment for smoke inhalation.

The property had been targeted by two unknown men as it is the family home of James Preston, who was found guilty of murdering his friend in a knife attack after a drug-fuelled night out in June. Preston, 21, stabbed 25-year-old Joe Holland with so much force that one blow severed his rib and punctured his lung and heart, the Liverpool Echo reports[1], whilst a second blow also cut his lung, passed through his diaphragm and damaged his liver. Police found the body of Mr Holland and the murder weapon, a large kitchen knife, in a locked downstairs bathroom at Preston’s family home on Huyton House Road on the afternoon of June 8, 2023.

He had been lying there dead since the early hours of the morning. For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here[2] CRIME:The faces of the people most wanted by police in Wales right now[3] COURTS: Man denies murdering Ashley Sasero in Llanelli[4]

Preston claimed he acted in self-defence but could not convincingly explain the extent and nature of Mr Holland’s injuries, which totalled 11 incised wounds including a stab wound to the back of the head. The killer, who had been caught on CCTV snorting Class B drug ketamine in a Chinese restaurant and pub, left Mr Holland’s body next to a note which read: “Words can’t explain the situation. I’m sorry but I had no choice.

It was me or him.” He then fled to Kent, where he turned himself into police on June 10. Mr Holland’s family were devastated by their loss and released a statement at the time which said: “No words could ever describe the loss of our beautiful son, brother, uncle and friend to many.”

Flowers were laid in memory of Joe Holland after he was stabbed to death by his friend, James Preston, in a drug-fuelled attack (Image: Liverpool Echo)Crime scene investigators survey the area after Mr Holland was found dead (Image: Liverpool Echo)

However, Preston’s horrific crime also brought horror to his own family. In the early hours of July 5, just hours before Mr Holland’s funeral, two men wearing masks poured flammable liquid through the letterbox of Preston’s family home, before smashing the front window with a brick and setting it alight.

WalesOnline and the Liverpool Echo have received permission to share frightening footage of the incident, filmed on a Ring doorbell camera on the front door of the property. In the footage, which you can view at the top of this article, two men can be seen creeping up to the front door, past a child’s bike. Audio captures the two men whispering to each other, before the pair pour accelerant through the letterbox from a petrol can.

One of the men then throws a brick through the window, before the other pours more fuel into the living room. As the liquid is poured, the other offenders sets an item alight and throws it into the window, instantly causing a fireball. The two men are then seen running from the scene.

No-one has been arrested over the incident and there is no suggestion that any of Mr Holland’s immediate family were involved in the attack. The incident was mentioned during Preston’s recent trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

An arson attack at the home of convicted killer James Preston in Huyton House Road after he was arrested for the murder of Joe Holland (Image: Liverpool Echo)James Preston was found guilty of murder (Image: Merseyside Police)

In court, a former friend of Preston and Mr Holland, Sean Rudd, gave evidence and explained he had been in the house with the other two men drinking and inhaling balloons of nitrous oxide on the night of the murder, but left before Mr Holland was stabbed. He told the court he left because Preston had punched him in the back of the head “with no warning” before kicking him in the face.

His departure was captured on the same Ring doorbell system that just under a month later recorded the arson attack. Mr Ruud was shown a picture of the inside of the property, showing a view from the living room into the kitchen. He also confirmed he had visited the house on a number of occasions before Mr Preston had been stabbed to death.

Nick Johnson, KC, defending Preston said: “It doesn’t look like that now does it, what’s the difference?”. Mr Ruud said: “It’s boarded up.” When asked why, Mr Ruud said he wasn’t sure but “I heard rumours it was on fire.” Mr Johnson said: “Someone torched it didn’t they?”

Mr Ruud answered: “So I have heard.” Mr Johnson said: “Who torched it?” Mr Ruud said: “No idea.” Mr Johnson asked: “Really?” Mr Ruud said “Yeah really.” Later in the trial, Preston himself gave evidence and was asked why he fled the crime scene and boarded a train to the south coast. He told the jury he wanted to “get as far away as possible”.

When asked why, he said: “I was scared….what Joe’s family and friends are capable of doing. I had my face cut while I’m in jail, they’ve tried to burn my mum’s house down with the kids in while I’ve been in jail.” Want less ads?

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References

1. ^ the Liverpool Echo reports (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
2. ^ For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here (www.walesonline.co.uk)
3. ^ The faces of the people most wanted by police in Wales right now (www.walesonline.co.uk)
4. ^ Man denies murdering Ashley Sasero in Llanelli (www.walesonline.co.uk)
5. ^ Apple (go.skimresources.com)
6. ^ Android (play.google.com)