Woman jailed for causing death of long-term partner

A woman has been jailed for causing the death of her terminally ill partner of 37 years after attacking him on New Year’s Eve.

Gillian Shaw, 62, of Rothwell Street, Liverpool was originally charged with murder following the death of house-bound Steven Cox, 64 whom she cared for.

He had significant medical conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema, giving him a life expectancy of 12 months.

On New Year’s Eve, she struck him to the head, dragged him from his bed, and tried to gouge out his eyes. Medical evidence confirmed Shaw suffered from several mental health conditions.

Shaw called the police, saying she had hit her partner and tried to poke his eyes.

When the police arrived, Mr Cox was on the floor as he had been dragged from his bed by Shaw. He was clearly upset. Shaw admitted to the attending officers that she had assaulted Mr Cox.

She was arrested and taken to St Anne Street police station. Mr Cox was taken to hospital, but he died in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2025.

Shaw was rearrested and charged with murder. A mental health practitioner declared that she had mental capacity and was fit to be interviewed.

She had attacked Mr Cox before, but he had not been willing to support a prosecution, previously indicating that she needed help for mental health rather than to be prosecuted.

When Mr Cox spoke to the police, he described their relationship as good but said it had deteriorated recently because of Shaw’s mental health issues.

When she was interviewed by police, Shaw said she had called them because she thought Mr Cox might die because of what she had done to him. She said she didn’t want him to die. She told the police that she loved him.

On 8 June 2025, the Crown Prosecution Service accepted a plea to manslaughter, accepting that Shaw had not meant to kill him but was responsible for his death.

Today, 28 July 2025, at Liverpool Crown Court, she was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. 

Senior Crown Prosecutor Edward Cain, of CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “Gillian Shaw’s attack caused serious injuries to Mr Cox - three fractured ribs, facial injuries and breathing problems. She admitted the attack to police.

“Mr Cox said they had a good relationship, and that Shaw suffered from poor mental health.

“Establishing the correct level of charge was complicated.

“Only when expert reports were received could the CPS assess all the evidence and determine the correct level of charge.

“This is an incredibly sad case and the Crown Prosecution Service offers its condolences to the all the family members and friends of Steven Cox.”