A MAN stabbed his girlfriend to death with scissors over a row about their pet lobster as their child was upstairs.
Christopher Foley, 23, stabbed 20-year-old mum-of-one Joanne Harrison in the neck after arguing over his failed attempts to seal a faulty fish tank containing crustacean Larry.
He then phoned 999 and the operator heard Joanne begging: "Please I'm dying."
She died from catastrophic blood loss in hospital.
At Liverpool Crown Court, Foley was convicted of murder after a week long trial and was ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years.
The killing was a sad and bloody climax to what had been a long period of abuse.
A post mortem revealed Joanne had 36 separate injuries dating back months.
On February 2 of this year Foley dialled 999 saying his partner had tripped while holding scissors.
He told the 999 operator: "She's tripped and fell and hit the radiator but had scissors in her hand. There are holes in her neck and blood squirting out. I love you Joanne – let me know you are all right."
When paramedics arrived at couple's home in Wigan, Greater Manchester,they found Foley holding bloodied scissors and in a "distressed and anxious state".
Joanne was unconscious on the floor with two stab wounds to her neck.
The couple's young child was upstairs.
Foley sobbed as he denied murder claiming the tragedy was an accident.
He admitted there had been arguments and minor violence between them in the past but said: "When were weren't arguing we were good together."
He agreed that a couple of days before the tragedy he had punched her causing a black eye during a row in which he claimed she had punched him first.
After the case Senior Investigating Officer Bob Tonge of Greater Manchester Police said: "This is a very horrific and very sad case in which a young woman lost her life in a violent domestic attack.
"Nobody should suffer at the hands of a violent partner and we will do everything we can to protect victims of domestic abuse and send the perpetrators to jail.
"Today, Foley has been jailed and I hope this goes some way to bring peace of mind to Joanne's family and can put to rest the end to the torment they have endured, after their traumatic loss."
Joanne's family said: "Joanne was the greatest daughter and sister and a best friend to many. She was fun loving with her whole life ahead of her. Joanne was taken from us in February in completely unnecessary circumstances. We cannot express how devastated we are that her life has been stolen from her. We miss Joanne every minute of every day."
No comments:
Post a Comment