Woman stabbed to death after calling police to report homophobic abuse
Stuart Curtis and Nicholas Curtis stabbed Glenda Jackson to death hours after she reported homophobic abuse
Two brothers have been found guilty of murdering a woman after she called the police to report homophobic abuse.
Glenda Jackson was stabbed to death early in the morning of September 30, 2018, outside her flat in Birkenhead, England.
Nicholas Curtis and Stuart Curtis, who lived in the same block of flats as Jackson, were found guilty of murdering her by Liverpool Crown Court on Monday (April 29).
Glenda Jackson was warned she would be killed if she responded to homophobic abuseWoman stabbed to death after calling police to report homophobic abuse
The court heard that hours prior to her death, Jackson had called the police to report that she had been attacked and suffered homophobic abuse.
Police officers had attended the scene at 2 AM, with Jackson telling officers that she had been warned that if she “dared do anything she would be killed.”
After police left, there was a further altercation when Jackson attacked the van belonging to Nicholas Curtis with a hammer and knife.
Stuart Curtis and Nicholas Curtis stabbed Glenda Jackson to death hours after she reported homophobic abuse
The court heard that Jackson was punched and kicked in the head, before being stabbed in the chest, thigh, and eye with her own knife.
Nicholas Curtis, who was treated in hospital for two stab wounds, argued he was acting in self-defence, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Both Stuart and Nicholas Curtis denied the murder charges despite forensic evidence, but were found guilty.
Police condemn violence and homophobic abuse
Merseyside Police detective chief inspector Richie Jones said: “This is a tragic incident in which a much loved woman was sadly killed.
“Ms Jackson sustained multiple stab wounds as a result of the attack, which occurred following an earlier confrontation with a group including the Curtis brothers, during which she was assaulted and subjected to verbal homophobic abuse.
“Nicholas and Stuart Curtis continued to deny murdering Ms Jackson, despite compelling forensic evidence, meaning her family and friends were forced to go to court and endure a trial.
“I hope today’s convictions bring some closure to Glenda’s family and allow them to move forward, but also send out a clear message that violence such a this is not tolerated by Merseyside Police, nor the communities we serve.
“I would like to thank the investigation team and our partners at Cellmark Forensic Services and the Crown Prosecution Service for their support and assistance to secure this conviction.
“We will continue to work tirelessly to eradicate the use of knives on our streets and bring to justice anyone who think this type of behaviour towards other human beings is acceptable.”
The Curtis brothers are set to be sentenced on Tuesday, but according to the BBC, Judge David Aubrey told the brothers: “The only sentence I can pass is a sentence of life imprisonment.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct had declined to open an investigation into the case.
