FOSTER Christian was convicted of the murders of Simon Gorecki and Natasha Sadler-Ellis in Canterbury in 2016.
Here we look at his life and crimes, as well as how long he was sentenced behind bars.
Who is Foster Christian?
The tragic events unfolded on March 29, 2016, when a dispute over hot water at the accommodation they shared escalated into a violent confrontation.
Foster Christian claimed he acted in self-defence when he fatally stabbed Simon Gorecki, 48, and Natasha Sadler-Ellis, 40.
However, the investigation revealed that this was a deliberate act of murder.
During the attack, Christian also seriously injured Natasha’s 20-year-old son and another 16-year-old boy.
The violence of the assault was evident in the multiple stab wounds inflicted on the victims.
999 call
After the attack, Christian called the police and told the operator: “I’ve just been attacked in my house.’’
During the call, he could also be heard saying: ‘’[It was] one of my housemates Simon and his girlfriend and these boys.’’
‘’They’ve just come to my door and started an argument and then just started lashing into me. They were hitting me with beer cans and bottles.’’
Christian also admitted to ‘’grabbing’’ a knife during the attack.
Following the investigation, Det Ch Insp Nick Gossett, senior investigating officer explained: ‘’What started as an argument took a very serious turn with tragic consequences.
‘’Now two lives have been lost and many lives ruined.
“Although Christian never denied stabbing Miss Sadler-Ellis and Mr Gorecki it is clear from our investigation that this was not self defence, but murder.”
Trial and sentencing
Following a three-week trial at Maidstone Crown Court, Christian was found guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of wounding.
In October 2016, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 30 years.
Judge Justice Stuart-Smith said at the time: “I accept there were tensions in the house. They were made worse when other residents had been drinking and became argumentative.
“Those tensions may explain why, when you made his shower go cold, Mr Gorecki swore at you and you swore back at him, instead of both of you reacting more calmly.
“Drink may have explained why Ms Sadler-Ellis got involved in the argument. But nothing – nothing at all – begins to justify what you did later.
“What you did was way over the top. It was literally a murderous attack on not just Mr Gorecki, who had a cider can but not a knife, and on Ms Sadler-Ellis, who was also unarmed.
“What you did went way beyond any possible bounds of reasonable self-defence.”
Judge Stuart-Smith added: “I don’t know if you have ever stopped pitying yourself or deludedly thinking you can justify what you did for long enough to consider the impact your knife attack has had.
“Not just on the people you killed and wounded, but on those affected by the loss of life you caused.’’
A Killer Makes a Call
The murders of Simon Gorecki and Natasha Sadler-Ellis will feature in the Channel 5 crime series ’A Killer Makes a Call’ on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 10pm.
Previous episodes of the series are also available to stream on My5.
