Trial continues of woman accused of murdering partner

Julie Ann McIlwaine told the police that James Crossley had “almost killed her” six months earlier

A woman on trial for the murder of her former partner had asked police to withdraw a complaint she had made against him in the hours before he was killed, a court has been told.

Julie Ann McIlwaine, 33, of Hazel Close in Lagmore, west Belfast is accused of the murder of Jim Crossley, 38, in Dunmurry on 2 March 2022.

On Friday, the jury at Coleraine Courthouse was played PSNI body camera footage from that night.

In the footage, Ms McIlwaine told the police that James Crossley had “almost killed her” six months earlier.

'It was going to be me or him'

On day two of the trial, the court heard that Julie Ann McIlwaine told police at the scene that her partner insisted she withdraw her complaint against him.

“He near killed me in October. He made me phone police to drop the charges.

"I knew this was coming. It was going to be me or him," she said.

A police officer confirmed to the court that Julie Ann McIlwaine had left a message asking for the charges against James Crossley to be dropped.

A police officer told the court that when they arrived Mr Crossley was “entirely covered in blood” and gasping for breath

'Not a bad person'

The defendant was allowed to sit outside the courtroom as the body camera footage was played.

It showed Julie Ann McIlwaine dressed in pyjamas and holding a baby as she told police: “I thought I loved him and kept taking him back and every time I took him back it got worse and worse. My family says I’m going to end up dead.

“I’m not a bad person - I’ve just done a bad thing," she said.

'Gasping for breath'

Police and emergency workers who tried to help Mr Crossley after he had been stabbed also gave evidence.

A police officer told the court how when he arrived on the scene he found Mr Crossley “entirely covered in blood” and gasping for breath.

A paramedic also gave evidence saying that when he arrived Mr Crossley was “deteriorating” and that during the journey to hospital the injured man went into cardiac arrest.

A consultant from the Royal Victoria Hospital told that court that despite “heroic” efforts Mr Crossley could not be resuscitated.