Man stabbed or slashed mum-of-five more than 100 times

Carl Harrison, of Hignett Avenue, Parr pleaded guilty to the murder of his partner Rachel Evans at his home in an earlier hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, April 26.

Rachel, who suffered with mental health issues, met Harrison in St Helens around a year ago, after spending seven years in a hospital in Bury.

Harrison also suffered with mental health issues.

Prosecuting, Ian Unsworth QC said how their relationship was a "troubled one" and they would drink and argue.

Several months before Rachel died, she moved into Harrison's mum's house, where he lived.

Mr Unsworth said: "Their time together was marked by acrimony and, on the defendant’s part, jealousy which manifested itself in controlling behaviour and violence."

Rachel told her social worker about Harrison's actions towards him.

Mr Unsworth said: "She told her that he always wanted to touch her and she had to tell him to get off.

"He would laugh and say her body was his.

"Rachel insisted that she had never been sexually assaulted by him."

On February 25, Rachel told Harrison she wanted to end the relationship but he responded by grabbing her throat with one hand and hitting her leg with the other.

"If you leave me, I will kill you," Harrison said.

When she tried to leave, he stopped her but she managed to call the police, who attended and arrested Harrison.

The defendant made no comment during an interview and was released on bail with conditions not to contact Rachel Evans.

But on March 8, Harrison told her mum that Rachel was going to move in.

Sick of the rowing between the couple, his mum left to stay at her daughter's home, leaving the pair having the house to themselves.

That same day, in a visit by her social worker and a police officer, Rachel told them that she wanted to drop proceedings against Harrison for the assault in February.

She also told police that she had not intention of resuming their relationship.

Two days later, on March 10, Rachel was seen getting into Harrison's vehicle, meaning the bail conditions for him to not contact Evans until March 22 had been breached.

That evening, between 9pm and 10pm, Harrison's neighbour heard Harrison shouting aggressively.

Mr Unsworth said: "At some point the defendant embarked upon a sustained attack upon Rachel.

"It cannot be said what happened with precision but is clear that Rachel was the subject of extreme and horrific violence, she being stabbed or slashed over 100 times."

The court heard evidence of the horrific extent of the injuries that Ms Evans suffered.

Rachel Evans

Police at the scene on Hignett Avenue

A post mortem examination revealed that she suffered wounds all over her body, inflicted by a 22cm flick knife.

When Harrison was questioned, he said that he remembered having a flick knife in his hand but did not remember how he had got it from a safe in the house.

Recorder of Liverpool, Judge Andrew Menary, sentenced Harrison to life imprisonment with a minimum of 18 years before he is eligible for parole.

It was noted that Harrison pleaded guilty early in proceedings and displayed "genuine remorse" for his actions.

In relation to the offences on February 25, Harrison was given a two-year concurrent sentence for making threats to kills.

In the same incident, he was handed a four-month concurrent sentence for assault.

Following Rachel's death, more than ten bunches of flowers, some with messages, were left in tribute outside the home.

Flowers left on Hignett Avenue following Rachel's death.

A family tribute described Rachel "as a loving mother to five boys, a sister and an aunt".