Addict guilty of 'savage' murder jailed for 16 years

A drug addict who stabbed to death a man with whom she had a "toxic" relationship must spend at least 16 years in jail, a judge has ruled.

Judge Mark Bishop has imposed a mandatory life sentence on 35-year-old Erin McNeilly, of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, after she was found guilty of murdering 61-year-old Peter Lynch, in June 2024.

The judge described McNeilly's attack on her partner as "savage" and "brutal" and said she must serve 16 years in prison before being considered for parole.

McNeilly, who lived in Walden End, Stevenage, had admitted manslaughter but denied murder during a crown court trial in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

Judge Bishop said a jury had heard how both McNeilly and Mr Lynch were addicts - Mr Lynch also sold drugs.

He said members of the "crack addict community" had given evidence and the trial had given an "insight" into the "degrading" lives of people dependent on drugs.

The judge said McNeilly and Mr Lynch had a "toxic relationship".

McNeilly had stabbed Mr Lynch after an argument about £10, the judge said.

The judge said McNeilly had admitted being "greedy" for drugs and letting her "anger get the better of her".

"A witness said you were 'off your head'," the judge told McNeilly when passing sentence at a hearing in Huntingdon.

"I am sure that when you stabbed him, you intended to kill him."

The judge added: "It was a savage, sudden and brutal attack."

Lawyers representing McNeilly had pointed to mental health difficulties in mitigation.

Judge Bishop said he accepted that Mr Lynch had been violent to McNeilly - and that McNeilly had been violent to Mr Lynch.

But he said Mr Lynch had not been "coercive and controlling".

He said he had "no doubt" that McNeilly regretted what she had done.

Police said officers had been called to reports of a serious assault in Walden End at about 23:50 BST on Wednesday, 19 June 2024.

Mr Lynch died after being taken to hospital.

"An investigation was launched by detectives from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit," said a Hertfordshire Police spokeswoman.

"McNeilly was subsequently charged on 5 August 2024."

Det Insp Lee Martin, who led the investigation, said after Friday's sentencing hearing: "This was a complex investigation, and I'd like to thank all officers and staff who helped.

"I am also grateful to the members of the public who assisted with our inquiries.

"Both Peter and Erin's families have treated each other with compassion and respect throughout the trial and I thank them all for acting with such humility in the face of such a tragic case."

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