A quiet family home became the scene of a horrific nightmare when a four-year-old girl was forced to watch her own father launch a brutal knife attack on her mother.
The terrifying incident, which unfolded in a typically peaceful neighbourhood, saw the young child witness the unthinkable as her dad, Michael Higgins, stabbed her mum multiple times in a fit of rage.
The court heard the chilling details of the young girl's desperate 999 call, where her tiny voice pleaded for help as her mother fought for her life. The operator can be heard asking, "Is the man still there?" to which the child whimpers, "He's hurting my mummy."
The brave victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, suffered severe injuries in the attack but miraculously survived. She described the utter terror of seeing her daughter in the room during the violent assault, a memory that will undoubtedly leave lasting psychological scars on them both.
Michael Higgins, 47, was sentenced at Warwick Crown Court after admitting to a charge of wounding with intent. The judge condemned his "dreadful and terrifying" actions, particularly highlighting the profound trauma inflicted upon the young child who witnessed the event.
This shocking case serves as a grim reminder of the hidden horrors of domestic violence and the devastating impact it has on the most vulnerable witnesses—the children caught in the crossfire.
