Kayleigh Smart, who the court heard suffers from schizophrenia, killed Liam Collier inside his own flat in Haydock in May last year after the pair reportedly shared ‘flirty’ messages
A vulnerable man desperately told a 999 operator “please, I am getting stabbed” while being attacked by a schizophrenic mum.
Liam Collier, who was described as “childlike” in some aspects according to the Liverpool Echo, had invited Kayleigh Smart, 40, to his Haydock flat after the pair exchanged flirty Facebook messages and had a 50-minute video call.
But soon after Smart arrived with her belongings packed into bags, she launched a horrifying attack on the 34-year-old, who suffered 11 stab wounds before falling from his first-floor window. During the attack, Mr Collier managed to call 999 and could be heard desperately pleading: “I’m getting stabbed…f*** off…help me, please. I’ve done nothing wrong…please, I am getting stabbed”, before falling silent.
Andrew Thomas KC, prosecuting, told the court: “He was shouting for help and saying he was being stabbed. He eventually fell from the window – a thud can be heard as he strikes the ground.”
It was not possible to determine whether Mr Collier jumped, was pushed or whether his fall was caused by a combination of both.
Police found him unconscious in the front garden suffering from multiple stab wounds and in cardiac arrest. Despite 45 minutes of efforts from paramedics and a critical care doctor, he was pronounced dead at 11.30pm.
Smart initially claimed her ex-boyfriend had followed her and carried out the stabbing. She later said she believed she had been set up and that cameras were recording her, claiming she armed herself because she thought Mr Collier was going to attack her.
The court heard Smart had an extensive history of mental illness and was supposed to be taking medication for paranoid schizophrenia, but had stopped doing so.
She was originally charged with murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility after psychiatric experts concluded her mental disorder had substantially impaired her ability to make rational judgments and exercise self-control.
Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Lucy Bacon told the court Smart’s schizophrenia was the “major causative factor” in the killing.
She said: “I do not think she would have carried out the offence if she was not psychotic at the time.”
Mr Collier’s mum Sonya Whitfield told the court: “That night changed my life forever. No mum should have to hear those words about their child. What hurt so much was how vulnerable Liam was. He deserved to be safe in his own home.”
Judge Brian Cummings KC adjourned Smart’s sentencing until Tuesday, September 15.