Thug, 45, who stabbed his girlfriend, 22, is found guilty of murder
Controlling thug, 45, who fatally stabbed his 22-year-old girlfriend when she quizzed him about seeing other women faces life sentence after being convicted of murder
- Elinor O’Brien, 22, died after being fatally stabbed in the groin in August 2022
- Her violent boyfriend Kevin Mannion, 45, has now been convicted of murder
A controlling thug has been found guilty of murdering his girlfriend after she quizzed him about seeing other women.
Kevin Mannion, 45, fatally stabbed Elinor O’Brien, 22, in the groin in a ‘rageful and violent attack’ after the couple rowed in his Manchester city centre apartment on August 16 last year.
A three-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard how Mannion killed Ms O’Brien after assaulting several times throughout their torrid eight-month relationship.
Just two days before murdering her, Mannion – who has previous convictions for violence – stabbed Ms O’Brien in 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.
Elinor O’Brien, 22, was stabbed to death by her boyfriend Kevin Mannion, 45, following a row at their flat in Manchester
Thug Kevin Mannion, 45, stabbed Ms O’Brien, 22, in the groin in a ‘rageful and violent attack’ at his Manchester city centre apartment on August 16 last year
Mannion called 999 just before 12.30pm on August 16 last year after stabbing Ms O’Brien at his apartment in the Great Northern Tower, in Watson Street.
While 22-year-old Ms O’Brien was bleeding to death, Mannion called his solicitor and warned him to ‘be available’ because he ‘knew’ he was going to be arrested.
READ MORE: Woman, 22, asked her boyfriend, 45, if he was seeing other women just minutes before he stabbed her to death, murder trial hears
Mannion initially told officers Ms O’Brien 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, Mannion said he had no idea how Ms O’Brien had been injured, and insisted he had found her lying in the hallway outside the flat before getting help.
But a jury saw through his lies and found him guilty of murder; wounding with intent; and coercive or controlling behaviour. Mannion showed no emotion as the jury returned its unanimous verdicts after a day of deliberation.
Judge Neil Flewitt KC told Mannion: ‘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 police he and Ms O’Brien had argued after she asked if he was seeing other women, when he failed to respond to a number of texts.
The court previously heard how Mr Mannion called 999 to report Ms O’Brien’s injury, telling the operator: ‘There’s blood everywhere… she’s dying, she’s dying.’
During the call, the killer was heard repeating his fatally-injured lover’s name before begging 999 operators to ‘please come’.
A three-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard how Mannion killed Ms O’Brien (pictured) after committing several assaults on her throughout their torrid eight-month relationship
While 22-year-old Ms O’Brien was bleeding to death, Mannion called his solicitor and warned him to ‘be available’ because he ‘knew’ he was going to be arrested
‘There’s blood everywhere. She’s been punctured in the groin. Please come,’ he pleaded, before the operator asks for his address.
READ MORE: Boyfriend, 45, ‘fatally stabbed his 22-year-old lover then rang his solicitor as paramedics battled to save her life’
‘You need to help. She’s dying, she’s dying. Please, please, please come,’ Mannion responds before giving his address. ‘I’m begging you to hurry up,’ he adds.
‘She’s been cut with a sharp object. She was picking her stuff up, I was throwing her stuff telling her to get out and something punctured her in the groin. I’m begging you to get someone here.’
Giving evidence, PC Luke Needham previously told the court he was called to the scene at Great Northern Tower at around 12.30pm.
When he arrived, he said ambulance and paramedic crews were already at the scene, and they were all escorted upstairs to Mannion’s flat by the concierge, the court heard.
He told the court he saw a man laying over the bottom half of a person, and noticed a lot of blood on the floor.
He said as he got closer, it was ‘clear’ the male was attempting to stem blood flowing from a wound, and he turned and said ‘thank God you are here’.
‘My first impression was that something wasn’t right,’ he told the court. He said Mannion was ‘sweating a lot’ and ‘breathing heavily’
The killing took place at the 236ft-tall Great Northern Tower in Manchester city centre on August 16 last year
The court also heard how minutes later, Mr Mannion made a phone call to a man named ‘Greg – solicitor’ in his phone.
In the transcripts of his police interviews, the court heard how Mr Mannion told officers that Miss O’Brien’s injury was ‘the most traumatising thing that’s ever happened in my life’.
He said he called his solicitor Greg and told him to ‘be available’ because he ‘knew’ he was going to be arrested.
Mr Mannion, of Watson Street, Manchester, is also charged with wounding with intent and coercive or controlling behaviour. He denies all charges.
In the weeks before he stabbed Miss O’Brien, Mannion had revealed that another woman he had been seeing had told him she was pregnant.
Mannion, from Manchester, will be sentenced next Thursday, March 9.
At the time of her death, Miss O’Brien friends paid tribute to her. One said: ‘Elinor was a beautiful young girl with the rest of her life ahead of her.
‘She was loved by anyone who had the pleasure of meeting her, she lit up the room with her infectious smile and laughter. Many hearts have been shattered and will never be the same. RIP our angel.’
Another woman posted on Facebook: ‘We will miss you Eli, beautiful inside and out. Taken too early. May you rest in peace now.’
Source: Read Full Article