Controlling thug who murdered girlfriend after she questioned him about seeing other women faces life sentence
02.03.2023 - 17:25
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A controlling thug who murdered his girlfriend after she questioned him about seeing other women faces a life sentence. Kevin Mannion, 45, stabbed Elinor O'Brien in the groin in a 'rageful and violent attack' after the pair rowed in his city centre apartment.
Mannion killed 22-year-old Elinor after committing several assaults on her throughout their eight month relationship. Just two days before murdering her, Mannion, who has previous convictions for violence, stabbed Elinor to the breast.
She had complained to police previously about being the victim of domestic abuse, but was too frightened to name Mannion as the perpetrator. Mannion called 999 just before 12.30pm on August 16 last year after stabbing Elinor at his apartment in the Great Northern Tower, just off Peter Street and Deansgate.
READ MORE: Figen Murray on terrorism, the legacy of the Manchester Arena inquiry and wanting to speak to a young Salman Abedi
He initially told officers that she had been accidentally 'pierced' by 'something in her belongings' when he had thrown her bags at her during an argument. Then, at his murder trial, he said he had no idea how Elinor had been injured, and insisted he had found her lying in the hallway outside the flat before getting help.
But a jury at Liverpool Crown Court saw through his lies and found him guilty of murder. He showed no emotion as the jury returned their unanimous verdicts.
Judge Neil Flewitt KC told Mannion he will be sentenced next week. He said: "The only sentence that I can impose on count 1 (murder) on this indictment is life imprisonment. I have to determine the minimum term and I need some help from all counsel."
The trial heard that after the killing, Mannion told interviewing officers that he