Deeside: Woman sentenced to life for murder

Mr Bennett was flown to hospital after being stabbed once in the chest in Connah's Quay on May 22, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Emma Berry, of Dock Road, Connah's Quay, changed her plea to guilty before her trial was due to begin at Mold Crown Court on Monday, December 6.

Appearing before Mold Crown Court the following day for sentencing, Berry showed no emotion as Judge Rhys Rowlands sentenced her to serve a minimum of 16 years before she can be considered for parole.

Prosecuting, Benjamin Douglas-Jones QC said both Berry and Mr Bennett had been living at Old Quay House, a property sub-divided into several residential units with communal areas.

Berry had been the victim of repeated domestic violence, including on the morning of the murder on May 22 when her partner attacked her and Mr Bennett's 16-year-old girlfriend, as well as ripping the patio door from its hinges.

Mr Bennett, who the court heard had overcome addiction issues and was loving working outdoors in a gardening role for the council, later went to the Hare and Hounds pub and was overheard telling people he wanted to leave Old Quay House, to remove himself from a "group of idiots" who had no respect for people's food and property.

Dean Michael Bennett.

The father-of-one added: "I can't go back there."

Mr Douglas-Jones QC added that sadly, Mr Bennett had no choice but to return to Old Quay House at 4.45pm and there was a brief verbal argument with his young girlfriend outside his room, which Berry overheard.

Berry said: "I am going to stab him," looking at Mr Bennett, and went to the communal kitchen to grab a knife.

Berry went to Mr Bennett's room, where Mr Bennett was stood away from her, and got on top of him and stabbed him in the chest, through the heart.

Witness Mark Tarran grabbed Berry and pushed her away, while Mr Bennett's girlfriend took the knife and threw it away, where it was retrieved later by police.

Emergency services were called and Mr Bennett was taken by air ambulance to Aintree, but sadly died from his injuries.

Berry was examined as she was seen to be "rocking back and forth" on her bed, "making funny noises and screaming". She was heavily drunk and, when later interviewed by police, said she had drunk half a litre of vodka and two cans of strong lager that day.

The court heard Berry had previous convictions for violence, including two against the same man, when she attacked him with a piece of wood in 2012 and stabbed him in the thigh in 2013.

Defending, Paul Lewis QC said Berry had overheard the argument between Mr Bennett and his young girlfriend, and feared that the young girlfriend would be attacked in the same way she had been earlier that day.

She had no prior quarrel with Mr Bennett, the two having lived amicably under the same roof for some time.

There was no suggestion that Mr Bennett was going to be violent towards his partner, but for Berry, who had been the victim of repeated domestic violence and was heavily in drink at the time, had the "momentary loss in temper" and went to get the knife.

Mr Lewis QC said Berry was "remorseful" and had pleaded guilty as she had no intention of putting Mr Bennett's family through the "further distress" of a trial.

Judge Rowlands said Berry reacted to the verbal argument in an "extreme and unwarranted manner", adding that he acknowledged no sentence he could pass would be sufficient for the victim's family, or the value of Mr Bennett's life.

He added Berry was "clearly a dangerous individual" and "until yesterday" had not shown great remorse for what she had done.

Berry was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years, less the 196 days she had already spent in custody.

The knife was to be forfeited and destroyed.

Judge Rowlands added he extended the court's sympathies to the victim's families, who had also shown "great restraint and forbearance" over the past couple of days in court.