Man pleads guilty to murdering pregnant girlfriend with scissors in Hackney | Criminal

A man has pleaded guilty to murdering his pregnant girlfriend with a pair of scissors in what prosecutors described as an “exceptionally brutal” attack.

Eilish Walsh, 28, was pronounced dead after police were called to her flat in Rectory Road, Hackney East London, on the evening of December 15 last year. She was found to have more than 40 stab wounds. Liam Taylor, 37, pleaded guilty to murdering Walsh during a hearing at the Old Bailey on Monday. Walsh was 22 weeks pregnant.

At an earlier hearing, Jane Osborne, QC, prosecuting, said: “The attack was exceptionally brutal and was carried out knowing that Ms Walsh was carrying the defendant’s child. There was a pattern on the 12-week scan and it would have been pretty obvious at 22 weeks.’

She said there was a “strong evidentiary link” between the accused and the crime scene.

Police were called after Walsh’s father arrived to find his daughter covered in blood and unconscious in her bedroom. Her body was covered by a jacket, in the pocket of which lay the accused’s bank card. Bloody scissors were found next to the dumbbells.

Taylor was seen entering the building through the common entrance at 8.36pm and exiting at 9.14pm. A few minutes before he left, the victim’s girlfriend called and heard yelling and fighting in the background.

The court heard the friend got in touch after Walsh sent her a text saying she was trying to get Taylor out of the flat because he was on drugs.

Taylor was arrested at his home early the next morning and found to be in possession of cocaine, cannabis and alcohol. While he was in police custody, he said: “It’s crazy how one moment of madness can change your whole life.”

The court heard that Taylor had previous convictions for assaulting members of his family. He was jailed for 12 months for assaulting his mother with a metal pole and cautioned for headbutting his sister when she was 16.

Judge Alexia Duran remanded Taylor in custody and adjourned sentencing pending reports. She told him: “You have pleaded guilty to a most serious crime. Can only be one sentence. The only question will be how long it will be before the Parole Board considers your release.’

The case will return to the Old Bailey on May 10 for a sentencing date.