Courtroom Chaos Erupts After Murder Convictions
Violence spilled into Liverpool Crown Court as one convicted murderer hurled a water bottle at his co-defendant moments after a jury delivered guilty verdicts for the killing of a beloved grandmother. James Byrne threw what appeared to be a full bottle at Simon Allen as Allen was being led to the cells following their convictions for the murder of 53-year-old Jackie Rutter.
Dramatic Retaliation and Restraint
The projectile struck Allen on the head, prompting him to shout obscenities at Byrne before lunging toward his fellow defendant. Court guards swiftly intervened to restrain Allen, preventing further physical confrontation in the courtroom. This shocking display occurred immediately after the jury delivered unanimous guilty verdicts against Byrne, Allen, and David Harrison for murder, while Barrie Glynn was convicted of manslaughter by a majority decision.
A Targeted Attack Over Drug Dispute
The court heard how Jackie Rutter, a mother of five and grandmother, was shot dead on her own doorstep in Moreton, Wirral, in October 2022. Prosecutors described the killing as a targeted revenge attack stemming from a drug-related dispute. According to the prosecution, Ms. Rutter's sons had reportedly stolen a mobile phone that Byrne and another man, Preston Connolly, were using to conduct their drug dealing business as part of the so-called "JJ Line."
Nigel Power KC told jurors: "This was no case of mistaken identity. This was a targeted revenge attack in the heat of a dispute over drugs." He detailed how three men arrived at Ms. Rutter's address in a stolen black Vauxhall Insignia, with two passengers approaching her front door. When she answered, she was shot twice—one bullet missing and another passing through her right hand into her chest.
Coordinated Criminal Operation
The prosecution outlined a coordinated criminal operation surrounding the murder:
- Byrne and Connolly allegedly carried out the shooting
- Glynn acted as the getaway driver
- Allen torched the stolen car used in the killing
- Harrison's home served as a base of operations
- Anna McGinn was charged with assisting an offender but was later cleared
Connolly was notably absent from the dock, having previously fled to Turkey. All four defendants present were unanimously found guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, as well as arson.
Family Tributes to a "Much-Loved" Woman
Ms. Rutter's daughter paid emotional tribute to her mother, describing her as "a very much-loved woman, not just to her family, but to everyone she met." She added: "The tragic loss was a shock to everyone and there is a massive gap in our lives that will never be filled."
Another of her children said in a separate tribute: "As a family we have been living our worst nightmare since you were cruelly taken by cowards. This has destroyed our family and left grandchildren confused as to why nanny Jackie isn't coming home." The tribute continued: "We cannot understand how someone could do this to you, a defenceless grandmother. Nothing can justify murder."
Broader Criminal Connections Revealed
During the prosecution's case, the court heard references to other serious crimes, including connections to Connor Chapman and the fatal shooting of Elle Edwards outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey on Christmas Eve 2022. Police received a tip-off that a Scorpion submachine gun used in that murder had been buried in woodland near Upton, highlighting the interconnected nature of serious criminal activity in the region.
The courtroom violence following the verdicts underscores the volatile nature of the case and the defendants' characters, while the detailed prosecution narrative revealed a calculated, revenge-driven attack that has left a family devastated and a community in shock.
