Tony Browne 'unconscious' in bed when murdered

Tony Browne, aged 54, was stabbed to death at his home in 2022

A man was "heavily intoxicated and "unconscious" in his bed when he was murdered by his girlfriend, a court has heard.

Tony Browne, 54, was at home when he was stabbed by 35-year-old Polish national Wiktoria Maksymowicz.

She has been handed a life sentence after pleading guilty to murder.

She had admitted three offences "aggravated by reason of involving domestic abuse" which she had previously denied.

Details of the case were heard for the first time on Thursday.

As Mr Browne's loved ones including his twin daughters sat in the public gallery, Maksymowicz was brought into the dock at Laganside Crown Court in handcuffs.

Twins Bobbi-Leigh and Shannon McIlwaine have previously said their father was a "gentle and kind soul".

Maksymowicz, with an address at Woodside Park, pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Browne on October 14, 2022 and possessing cannabis on the same date.

She also admitted charges of possessing a knife on a Translink bus and assaulting Mr Browne the day before his murder, on October 13, 2022.

Crown barrister Frank O'Donoghue KC told the court that "Mr Browne had been sober for around ten years" before meeting Maksymowicz.

Twins Bobbi-Leigh, left, and Shannon McIlwaine have said their lives have been destroyed by their father's murder

Attack 'out of nowhere'

The court heard that the evening before the murder, a nephew of Mr Browne's called at his home.

He said they were "both drinking and in good form."

Mr O'Donoghue said: "While the three of them were drinking in the living room, the defendant went into the kitchen" and came back with a "silver dinner knife" and she then "stabbed the deceased just above his right knee."

This happened while Mr Browne was sitting in a chair wearing boxer shorts and resulted in a puncture to his skin.

The prosecutor said Mr Browne's nephew was in "complete shock" and the attack had come "out of nowhere."

The nephew recalled that his uncle "didn't really react" and Maksymowicz cleaned up the wound then applied a bandage.

The court then heard about the night of the murder.

Maksymowicz called 999 and when paramedics arrived she was "in a distressed state and holding a tea towel to Mr Browne's neck."

Mr O'Donoghue said Maksymowicz was arrested at Woodside Park and whilst being taken to a police station, she said "tell me that they will help him. Stupid vodka."

The court was told she went on to say: "'I tried to save him.' 'I tried to protect him' and 'I did not kill him.'"

Mr Justice O'Hara said he wanted time to reflect on what he heard and would impose the tariff on 3 July.

Wiktoria Maksymowicz pleaded guilty to the murder of Tony Browne in May