Liverpool Crown Court Sentencing Results

Kevin Weetman was involved in an arson attack at 44 South John Street in St Helens on July 15, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of Eric Greener, 77, and Sheila Jackson, 83. The fire was set by Paul Smith and Lee Owens, with Weetman implicated in the plot related to a drug dispute targeting Sheila's son George Jackson. Weetman and others denied involvement but were convicted of manslaughter after a trial.

Kylie Maynard was involved in an arson attack at 44 South John Street in St Helens on July 15, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of Eric Greener, 77, and Sheila Jackson, 83. The fire was set by Paul Smith and Lee Owens, with Maynard linked to the plot through a personal and drug-related dispute involving George Jackson. She denied involvement but was convicted of manslaughter after a trial.

Lee Owens acted as a lookout while Paul Smith set fire to 44 South John Street in St Helens on July 15, 2025, resulting in the deaths of Eric Greener, 77, and Sheila Jackson, 83. The arson stemmed from a drug-related dispute targeting Sheila's son George Jackson, involving Owens' associate Maynard. Owens was later seen arguing with Smith, who was drink driving hours after the fire.

Ryan Walsh-Westhead, nephew of Connor Walsh, was a passenger in the Seat Ateca during the convoy to Quarryside Drive in Kirkby on July 17, 2024. He was dropped off shortly after the shooting, where Ring doorbell camera footage captured him commenting on Rikki Berry's death. The camera was removed but recovered via his mother's phone on April 8, 2025. Walsh-Westhead denied involvement, claiming he was not in the car, but was convicted nearly a year after his co-defendants. The motive remains unclear but possibly drug-related.

Adrian Waring, 35, raped an innocent and defenceless baby girl under the age of 12 months and filmed the attack. His offences included two counts of rape, six counts of making indecent photographs of a child, sexual assault, possession of extreme pornography, sexual activity with a living animal, and possession of cocaine.

Craig Middleton, 53, from Wirral, raped a woman aged in her 20s at two properties in Leeds in 2009. The case was part of a Merseyside Police investigation. He was convicted following a trial where he denied the offences.

On June 20, 2025, Nimalarajah Mathiyadaranam, aged 47, premeditatedly stabbed his estranged wife Nilani Nimalarajah, aged 44, to death in the shop where she worked, Low Cost Food and Wine on Stanley Road in Bootle. Motivated by anger over not being invited to a family celebration for his daughter's first menstrual period, he purchased a block of knives from Asda supermarket while disguised, stashed them in a JD Sports bag, travelled by bus to the area, and waited until the shop was empty. He entered around 5pm, stabbed her 18 times targeting her chest, head, abdomen, and other areas with a large knife, which snapped due to the ferocity of the merciless, sustained, and brutal attack. The assault was captured on CCTV, showing him dragging her, jabbing at her face and eyes, and manipulating the knife in her abdomen to ensure death. After the attack, he drank whisky and ingested pesticide in an attempt to poison himself. Their 17-year-old daughter witnessed the aftermath and called for help. Nilani suffered 14 stab wounds and four slash wounds, piercing her lung, heart, skull, and spine, and was pronounced dead at 5.53pm in hospital. Mathiyadaranam had prior convictions for violence and was under restraining orders prohibiting contact with Nilani and his eldest daughter due to previous harassment and assault.

On Friday 20 June 2025, Nimalarajah Mathiyaparanam, 47, of Warrington Road in Widnes, fatally stabbed his estranged wife, 44-year-old Nilani Nimalarajah, inside Low Cost Food and Wine on Stanley Road in Bootle, shortly after 5.05pm. Nilani suffered multiple stab wounds and was taken to hospital but passed away a short time later. Mathiyaparanam was detained at the scene but ingested an unknown substance, becoming critically ill and requiring hospital treatment for several weeks before recovering. The incident was witnessed by members of the public during rush hour traffic.

Peter Langley killed his 77-year-old father, Alfred Langley, by inflicting a head injury at their home on Clipsley Lane in Haydock. The incident occurred on October 29, 2024, and was reported to Merseyside Police shortly after 10pm. Alfred was found dead inside the house. There was no history of domestic abuse in the family.