Woman jailed over terminally ill partner's death

Shaw told police she did not want her partner to die

A woman tried to gouge her terminally ill partner's eyes as she beat him and dragged him from his sick bed, a court has heard.

Steven Cox, 64, of Rothwell Street, Liverpool, died in hospital on New Year's Day, Merseyside Police said.

His partner, Gillian Shaw, 62, who cared for him at their home, admitted manslaughter at Liverpool Crown Court.

She was jailed earlier for five years.

Police said Shaw, who was originally charged with murder, suffered from several mental health conditions.

Senior crown prosecutor Edward Cain, of CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: "Mr Cox said they had a good relationship, and that Shaw suffered from poor mental health.

"Establishing the correct level of charge was complicated.

"Only when expert reports were received could the CPS assess all the evidence and determine the correct level of charge.

"This is an incredibly sad case and the Crown Prosecution Service offers its condolences to the all the family members and friends of Steven Cox."

Steven Cox was terminally ill when Gillian Shaw attacked him

'Loved him'

Police said they were called by Shaw on New Year's Eve , saying she had hit her partner and tried to poke his eyes.

Mr Cox was on the floor, and Shaw, who was "clearly upset", admitted to officers that she had assaulted him.

Shaw had attacked her partner before, but he had been unwilling to support a prosecution, indicating that she needed help for mental health rather than being prosecuted.

Mr Cox described their relationship as good but said it had deteriorated because of Shaw's mental health issues.

When she was interviewed by police, Shaw said she had called them because she thought Mr Cox might die because of what she had done to him.

She said she did not want him to die and she loved him.

Police said Mr Cox had "significant medical conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema, giving him a life expectancy of 12 months".