Four Men Deny Murder of Wirral Grandmother at Liverpool Court

Four men—Simon Allen, James Byrne, Barrie Glynn, and David Harrison—have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jacqueline Rutter, a 53-year-old grandmother who was shot in the chest at her home in Moreton, Wirral, Merseyside, in October 2022. The defendants also face charges of possessing a 9mm pistol and ammunition with intent to endanger life, as well as arson linked to the destruction of a stolen vehicle. Anna McGinn, charged with assisting an offender by driving two men believed to be guilty of murder, also pleaded not guilty. All five appeared via videolink from various prisons at Liverpool Crown Court, where the trial has been set to begin on October 6 following a pre-trial hearing on September 8. Ms. Rutter was one of several female victims of gun crime in Merseyside during 2022, highlighting ongoing concerns about violence in the region. The court proceedings are ongoing as the legal process advances toward trial.