Domestic abuser stabbed boyfriend to death after pub trip in 'drink-fuelled rage'

A woman who stabbed her boyfriend to death in a "drink-fuelled rage" has been jailed for life.

Emma Walsh, 31, stabbed her partner, Gary Morgan, 36, in the chest at her home in Lavan Close, Everton, Liverpool, on 10 April this year after a night at the pub.

Morgan had been a victim of domestic abuse before he died, Merseyside Police said.

Walsh, who was convicted of his murder at Liverpool Crown Court last Friday, was sentenced on Monday to life in prison, with a minimum term of 18 years.

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Sentencing, the honorary recorder of Liverpool, Judge Andrew Menary KC, told Walsh: "This fatal attack was part of a pattern of serious domestic abuse, including violence spanning most of the year you were together.

"You knew full well you had an explosive temper and were prone to using implements to cause harm. There were plenty of warnings, but you were unwilling to change."

The trial heard the couple met in March 2021, when Walsh contacted Mr Morgan, who had his own paving and landscaping business, on Facebook, but their year-long relationship was marred by violence.

The court heard Walsh had attacked Mr Morgan with the "tools of his trade", swinging a rake at him and leaving him with a "big gash on his eyebrow" after an attack with a spirit level.

Morgan, a father from Prescot, Merseyside, was regularly seen with black eyes and even bite marks across his body, the court heard.

On one occasion, he was stabbed in the neck with a butter knife, while text messages revealed that Walsh had spat at him, punched him, refused to let him shower and "smashed a glass and come at him with it".

Morgan told a friend Walsh had "tried to bite his nose off", the court heard, while his father had witnessed her throw a Subway sandwich at him and kick him in the head.

On Sunday, 10 April, Walsh and Morgan went to the Belmont pub to watch Liverpool's Premier League match against Manchester City before staying for karaoke night.

They returned to the bungalow on Lavan Close at about 10pm, where she stabbed and killed the tradesman in the chest in a "drink-fuelled, explosive rage".

Walsh, the mother of two adopted boys, claimed Morgan had been attacked by "some fella in town" before suggesting that one of her former partners may have been responsible.

She then changed her story to say he had sustained his fatal injury after falling onto a broken shard of plastic from a BlueTooth speaker.

After the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Drew said: “This is a very tragic case which led to the sad death of a much-loved man.

“The family of Gary Morgan have been left devastated by their loss and have had to endure the ordeal of a court trial as they sought to get justice for Gary’s death.

“Domestic abuse is a complex issue and can take many forms. It can be psychological, financial, sexual, emotional and physical and can affect anyone regardless of sex, ethnicity or religious belief."

Morgan's mother, Sandra Morgan, was diagnosed with cancer two days after her son was murdered.

In a statement, Morgan's family said: "No one should suffer from domestic violence.

"Men should not be afraid to come forward if they are suffering from domestic violence from their partner. Coming forward is not a sign of weakness it is a sign of strength.

"Gary was a happy bubbly person who loved life. We are devastated to lose a caring and fun-loving son/brother to domestic violence."