Woman stabbed boyfriend to death then blamed 'fella who jumped in through the window'

A woman stabbed her boyfriend to death then claimed that a "fella had jumped in through the window and attacked him".

Amanda McDonnell left Gerard Hand with a fatal knife wound to the chest after arming herself in self-defence, having become embroiled in a drunken row at a friend's flat on Church Walk in Bootle. After being found cradling her dying partner in her arms, she told police officers: "I haven't done nothing to him."

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Friday, that the couple lived together in a two-bedroom apartment at Stanley House on Washington Parade in Bootle, which was tenanted by 44-year-old Mr Hand. But their relationship was described as being "volatile and characterised by a mutual dependence on alcohol".

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Benjamin Aina KC, prosecuting, outlined how they would often have verbal arguments after drinking, with the police having been called out to disturbances involving the two previously. Mr Hand was said to have alleged violence by McDonnell on seven occasions between September 2022 and September 2023, while she had also accused him of subjecting her to violent behaviour seven times stretching from the summer of 2022 until October last year.

Shortly before 1.30am on November 22 2023, both parties visited a Shell petrol station on Derby Road with their dog and bought alcohol for themselves and a homeless man on the forecourt. They were then seen on CCTV leaving towards the adjacent Church Walk, where they entered the ground floor flat of a friend named Darren Edwards via the window, as the other male walked away in the direction of Crosby.

The night cashier at the garage recalled McDonnell then returning at around 6am with a red mark near to one of her eyes and a slash mark to the top of her chest. The 44-year-old purchased more alcohol and cigarettes before leaving again.

The North West Ambulance Service later received a call from Mr Edwards shortly before 7.45am stating that Mr Hand had been stabbed "by another man", which Mr Aina said was "information he must have inherited" from the defendant - who could be heard in the background "in extreme distress" and saying "he's lost a lot of blood". Officers arrived around 10 minutes later and found the gravely injured man in McDonnell's arms with his hoodie covered in blood.

She claimed that her boyfriend had "had a fight with a fella", and when asked whether he had been stabbed said "I think so". PCs noted that she was "slurring her words and unsteady on her feet", while her clothing was bloodstained and she had injuries including a bloodied nose and a cut above her right eye with a lump and bruising to her forehand.

After being taken into the bedroom and questioned over the incident, McDonnell replied that a "f***ing fella came in and f***ing attacked him through the window" and added: "He jumped through the window and just attacked him. He was at the garage, they might have a security camera."

McDonnell said this man had also punched her in the face, telling officers: "I tried to stop him from getting out and he attacked me. I tried to pull him back and he attacked me.

"I think he's had cocaine, like crack or s***. I don't know.

"I didn't see nothing. I just seen him and then he ran.

"I ran after him. I said 'get out of the house, I don't like you' and he f***ing attacked me.

"I've never seen him. But they're on CCTV over there in the Shell garage.

"That's the first time I've ever seen him. I can't believe he jumped through the f***ing window and attacked him."

When asked why Mr Hand had been attacked, McDonnell replied "drugs" and said "he owes money". After being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, she added: "He shouldn't be f***ing dealing with drugs, should he?"

McDonnell was told she was being taken into custody at Copy Lane Police Station, at which stage she stated "I haven't done nothing to him". The kitchen knife used to inflict the stab wound was subsequently recovered from a drawer in the kitchen.

Mr Hand was meanwhile rushed to Aintree Hospital by air ambulance in a critical condition, having suffered a two to three inch wound under his left armpit. He was pronounced dead at around 10.45am the same day.

Under interview, McDonnell told detectives that they had both been drinking at home from around 4pm the previous day. Mr Hand consumed eight to 12 cans of lager and a quarter of a box of wine, while she had drank the remainder of the wine.

Around midnight, she reported that she had stopped drinking and made a cup of tea. But her partner "wanted more" alcohol and allegedly began hitting her, kicking her and pulling her hair.

Mr Hand was then said to have poured the tea over her before smashing the cup against a wall. Ms McDonnell thereafter agreed to go with him to buy more alcohol from the petrol station, where they purchased eight cans of beer, vodka and wine as well as another four beers for a man who had asked them for money.

Whilst there, they spotted that Mr Edwards' lights were on and heard music coming from his flat and decided to visit him. They then spent the ensuing hours drinking, watching TV and listening to music.

At one stage, the man from the garage reportedly passed the window and joined them for a drink. But Mr Hand "began getting jealous" and told the male to leave, which he did.

Afterwards, he was said to have assaulted Ms McDonnell by punching her in the nose, attempting to bite her fingers and "going for her throat". She recalled ending up on the floor and managing to crawl away to the kitchen, where she armed herself with a knife and pointed the implement towards him and "told him to stay away from her".

But Mr Hand then "lunged at her" and was injured when he "walked into the knife", after which he fell to the floor and began coughing up blood. Ms McDonnell maintained that she "did not attempt to stab him" during the incident.

Mr Aina added: "In all the circumstances, the prosecution accept that she did not intend to cause her partner's death or really serious harm. Her intention was to bring the argument to an end."

Anne Whyte KC, defending, told the court that her client's convictions following the death of her mother, which was said to be the "trigger for her falling to alcohol misuse and mental health issues". She added: "She was of some years before acquiring criminal convictions.

"They do appear to be linked to life events. There is some evidence of Mr Hand being violent towards the defendant, regrettably.

"She has plainly offered support and reliability to other female prisoners. She has started, as quickly as possible, to make use of the opportunities provided in prison to change her thinking and alcohol misuse."

McDonnell admitted manslaughter on the basis of excessive self-defence. Appearing in the dock with black hair and wearing a black floral top, she was jailed for eight-and-a-half years - a term of which she will be required to serve two thirds behind bars before becoming eligible for release on licence - this afternoon.

Sentencing, Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: "Gerard Hand has been described as a likeable and intelligent man, a larger than life character and a gentle giant. He was a man who loved the company of others and enjoyed listening to music.

"His violent death has brought pain and sadness to the lives of the many people who loved and cared about him. His loss will be felt deeply by his mother, his daughter, his brother, his sister and his nephews and nieces who are now left only with their memories of a man that was such an important part of their lives.

"You are responsible for that loss, and you must now be punished for it.

"It is clear from the injuries seen by the police that you were the victim of some violence from Gerard Hand on the day of the fatal incident and I accept that, as a result, you may have picked up the knife in anticipation of further violence. This was not a premediated offence.

"It was a crime committed in the heat of the moment when you were involved in a domestic dispute and under the influence of alcohol. You have undoubtedly been the victim of domestic violence at the hands of a previous partner, which I accept may have influenced your reaction to any threat posed by Gerard Hand.

"I am satisfied that the principal cause of your offending on this occasion was your abuse of alcohol.

"I have noted the constructive use that you have made of the time that you have so far spent in custody. I accept that you have shown genuine remorse for taking the life of Gerard Hand."

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