Guy Who Kills Girlfriend with a Pair of Scissors Given Life Sentence

Christopher Foley, 23, stabbed 20-year old mother of one Joanne Harrison in the neck following a petty row over their pet lobster before dialling 999

A brute with ''piercing eyes'' who used a pair of scissors to murder his girlfriend after a string of beatings was jailed for life today.

Christopher Foley, 23, stabbed 20-year old mother of one Joanne Harrison in the neck following a petty row over their pet lobster before dialling 999.

A shocked operator was forced to listen to Miss Harrison begging: ''Please, I'm dying'' before hearing her slowly succumb to her injuries.

Paramedics dashed to the couple's home in Wigan, Greater Manchester but she died in hospital later from catastrophic blood loss.

After her death an undated note written by Miss Harrison in crayon was found addressed to Foley in which she wrote "I have come to the conclusion that me and you just aren't meant to be.''

At Liverpool Crown Court, Foley was convicted of murder after a week long trial and was ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years.

The killing was the bloody climax of the couple's stormy two-year relationship with Foley ''starting and finishing most of the violence'' towards his girlfriend.

Two days before her death Joanne - described as a ''beautiful, fun-loving woman with a twinkle in her eyes'' sent a photograph via her phone to her family showing a black eye she had suffered at his hands.

Tragedy struck on February 2 this year when Foley dialled 999 and falsely claimed Joanne had tripped and hit her head in a radiator while holding the scissors.

He said that when he had been going to see to their crying child upstairs and but instead Joanne said she would go, before falling over their child's ball pit and a toy.

He told the 999 operator: "She's tripped and fell and hit the radiator but had scissors in her hand.

"There are holes in her neck and blood squirting out.

"I love you Joanne - let me know you are all right.''

During the 10 minute call, she was heard saying: "I cannot feel my arm.

"I need to get up" before pleading for her life as her breathing became more and more laboured.

Ambulance staff arrived to find Foley ''distressed and anxious'' holding a blood spattered pair of scissors and the victim lying on the ground unconscious with two stab wounds to her neck.

Foley was ordered to drop the scissors and Miss Harrison was taken to Wigan Infirmary where she passed away despite attempts to revive her.

A post-mortem examination revealed she had 36 separate injuries dating back months.

She had suffered two stab wounds, the upper one penetrating the apex of her right chest, grazing her lung and damaged her third rib.

Police who investigated the tragedy spoke to a neighbour, Colin Catchpole, who saw Foley with his head in his hands saying to her: "Don't leave me, we have a son."

He told Mr Catchpole: "It's Jo, she's not moving.

"I think I have killed her."

Foley sobbed as he denied murder claiming the tragedy was an accident.

He admitted there had been arguments and minor violence between them in the past but said: "When were weren't arguing we were good together."

He agreed that a couple of days before the tragedy he had punched her causing a black eye during a row in which he claimed she had punched him first.

He claimed on the day of the killing the couple had argued over his failed attempts to seal a cracked fish tank containing their lobster Larry.

After the case Senior Investigating Officer Bob Tonge of Greater Manchester Police said: "This is a very horrific and very sad case in which a young woman lost her life in a violent domestic attack.

"Nobody should suffer at the hands of a violent partner and we will do everything we can to protect victims of domestic abuse and send the perpetrators to jail.

"Today, Foley has been jailed and I hope this goes some way to bring peace of mind to Joanne's family and can put to rest the end to the torment they have endured, after their traumatic loss."

Joanne's family said: "Joanne was the greatest daughter and sister and a best friend to many.

"She was fun loving with her whole life ahead of her.

"Joanne was taken from us in February in completely unnecessary circumstances.

"We cannot express how devastated we are that her life has been stolen from her.

"We miss Joanne every minute of every day.

"We can try to repair our heartache although no matter how long the sentence is, it will not bring Joanne back or make our loss any easier."