Good Samaritan 'Killed With Broken Wine Bottle'

A mum-of-two who intervened in a street row was murdered when a man plunged a broken bottle into her neck, a court has heard.

Alison Wilson was worried about the safety of a baby whose mother was arguing with Stephen Duggan near a chip shop in Widnes, Cheshire.

The 36-year-old witnessed the argument from a taxi with a male friend and thought it would be "less intimidating" if she stepped in, a jury at Liverpool Crown Court was told.

But Ms Wilson's attempt to act as peacemaker failed, with 28-year-old Duggan allegedly turning on her and the male friend.

Using a wine bottle as a weapon, he felled Anthony Tomlinson, 43, with a blow to the side of the head, the court heard.

The defendant then allegedly thrust the now-broken bottle into Ms Wilson's neck, severing her jugular vein.

The Good Samaritan died in hospital six days after the 7 March incident.

Prosecution lawyer Gordon Cole QC said: "We say that night this defendant was the aggressor. We say it was he who lost his temper. We say it was he who deliberately attacked both Alison Wilson and Anthony Tomlinson.

"This was, we say, not some sort of accident he (Duggan) may seek to make out.

"We make it clear we do not say he intended to kill Alison Wilson but we do say he intended to inflict really serious harm because to use a broken bottle to her head and neck when she presented no threat whatsoever shows he had lost his temper."

Duggan issued no warnings before he wielded the bottle, jurors were told.

The defendant, formerly of Water Street, Runcorn, previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter but the Crown did not accept the plea.

He denies murder and further counts of wounding with intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.