Daniel Briceno Garcia

The offence

What the court heard

He was found guilty of murder in Stockwell, south London, on 1 April 2020. He had pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Sentencing remarks 1 On Wednesday May 18th 2022 you were convicted of the murders of Edgar Aguilera Daza and Sonia Butron Calvi and I must now sentence you. At the start of the trial you pleaded guilty to manslaughter and the jury had to consider the partial defence of diminished responsibility. As their verdicts clearly show, they did not accept the defence applied. 2 Edgar was 60 years of age and Sonia 66 at the time of their deaths. They were your landlord and landlady at the address in Dorset Road where you lived and had done so for some time. In a moving impact statement their daughter Laura, speaks of them both as wonderful parents, grandparents, friends, excellent church advisors and mentors. She says: "Many people at church looked up to them because they were a humble, caring and stable couple. Sonia's warm reassurance and Edgar's infectious humour would make everyone feel better in times of struggle and hurt." She speaks of the hurt caused by the cruel way their lives were taken and the broken hearts of a family that have seen innocent lives taken unjustly. She speaks too of the impact on the wider Bolivian community that feels crushed and heartbroken by your actions. 3 Edgar and Sonia were killed on 1st April 2020. Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK, a lockdown had been introduced on 23rd March 2020 banning all non-essential travel and contact with people, closing schools, businesses, venues and gathering places. You were one of those who continued to work: working as a street cleaner in Westminster. 4 In the afternoon of 1st April, having returned from work, you were in the communal kitchen at Dorset Road. There were five rooms used as bedrooms at that address, a communal kitchen and a communal bathroom with eight of you sharing. Sonia had commented to one of the other residents, Maria Bobadilla, that she did not know what was wrong with you and that you were constantly in a bad mood. The beginning of the month is when rent was due. 5 When Maria was in her room that afternoon she heard shouting coming from downstairs. Whatever had triggered what happened between you, Edgar and Sonia, only you really know. What is clear from investigations after the event is that you launched a brutal and murderous attack on Edgar and then on Sonia. Having been alerted by the noise of shouting, Maria came from her room to the top…

Around this case

• Central Criminal Court Crown Court
• Prosecuted by Crown Prosecution Service