Joleen Corr murder: Michael O'Connor pleads guilty

Joleen Corr pictured before she was attacked by her former partner

A man accused of killing his partner, who died more than a year after she was assaulted in her home, has changed his plea and admitted that he murdered her.

Joleen Corr, 27, was attacked in Downpatrick, County Down, in December 2016 and was left needing 24-hour care.

She died in April 2018, after a landmark court ruling that decided she should no longer be kept alive.

Michael O'Connor, whose address was given as Maghaberry jail, was remanded back into custody to await sentencing.

Michael O'Connor changed his plea to guilty shortly before his trial

The 34-year-old is originally from Westrock Grove in Belfast.

Ms Corr, who was a mother of one, was critically injured in the attack in her home in Thomas Russell Park shortly before Christmas in 2016.

Following the assault, O'Connor was initially charged with attempting to murder Ms Corr.

However, after her death in April 2018, he was then charged with both murder and manslaughter.

O'Connor had previously pleaded not guilty to both charges.

Joleen Corr needed round-the-clock care after she was attacked in her home in December 2016

On Monday, shortly before his trial was due to begin in Downpatrick Crown Court, O'Connor changed his plea.

Because he pleaded guilty to murder, the lesser charge of manslaughter was left on the books.

He was sent back to prison and will be sentenced at a later date which is yet to be fixed.