A mother described as 'evil' by prosecutors masterminded a brutal revenge killing with her two adult children, orchestrating the murder of a mechanic so they could boast about it on social media platform Snapchat. Joanne Maxwell, aged 44, enlisted her son Liam Donlin, 25, and daughter Amie Clegg, 22, to help 'chop up' 37-year-old Paul Scott in what the court heard was a premeditated attack fuelled by longstanding animosity.
Revenge Plot Hatched Over Birthday Party Dispute
Preston Crown Court was told that Maxwell had harboured a 'beef' with Mr Scott for approximately ten months prior to the fatal incident. The hostility stemmed from a physical altercation that occurred during Clegg's 21st birthday celebration in August 2024, for which Maxwell blamed Mr Scott and his friend Charlie Elliot. In messages presented as evidence, Maxwell had threatened to assault Mr Scott and vandalise his vehicle, demonstrating escalating intent.
Armed with Kitchen Knives and Mobile Phones
In the early hours of June 22, the trio armed themselves with four kitchen knives before travelling from Darwen to Mr Scott's residence in Blackburn, Lancashire. Their preparation included explicit discussions about filming the assault for social media bragging rights. Donlin sent a voice note via Snapchat to a friend declaring his intention to 'f***ing absolutely chop this kid up now' and confirmed plans to record and post the violent footage online.
Maxwell was overheard insisting the matter 'needs to be sorted out tonight' and 'needs to be done,' underscoring the deliberate nature of their mission. Clegg, who was distantly related to Mr Scott through her father being the victim's cousin, directed the group to his flat, leveraging her knowledge of his whereabouts.
Fatal Stabbing Captured on Camera
Upon arrival, Clegg used her brother's mobile phone to film their approach and lured Mr Scott to his front door. Donlin, a bodybuilder standing at 6ft 1ins, then forcefully stabbed the 5ft 3ins victim in the chest with a kitchen knife, uttering 'Go on, you little f***ing rat' during the attack. The blade penetrated two inches into Mr Scott's heart after being thrust through his chest wall with what medical evidence described as 'considerable force.'
Prosecutor Richard Little KC emphasised this was 'no accident' but rather 'a severe stab wound, deliberate, straight to the chest and heart of Paul Scott.' He characterised Maxwell as having 'championed' the murder and acting as the 'director and producer of that violent movie,' while asserting all three defendants were culpable and shared the same lethal intentions.
Failed Attempt to Conceal the Crime
After Mr Scott collapsed bleeding on his kitchen floor, the trio remained at the scene but made no effort to administer first aid or summon immediate medical assistance. Clegg eventually dialled 999 but provided false names to the operator and claimed ignorance regarding Mr Scott's address or how he sustained his injuries, in a transparent attempt to mislead investigators and evade responsibility.
Swift Jury Verdict and Family Anguish
Following a thirteen-day trial, the jury required less than three hours to convict all three defendants of Mr Scott's murder. They have been remanded into custody awaiting sentencing scheduled for March 20, where they face mandatory life imprisonment terms. In a heartfelt statement, Mr Scott's family described the past seven months as 'every family's worst nightmare' and 'the most challenging our family has ever had to endure.'
They poignantly expressed: 'Our beloved Paul was taken from us in an unimaginable act of cruelty. Set upon by a mother, her daughter and her son. A trio of evil attacked, killed and filmed Paul's last moments in the dead of night on his own doorstep.' Detective Superintendent John McNamara of Lancashire Police welcomed the verdicts, noting that while Donlin inflicted the fatal wound, 'he was not his only murderer.' He acknowledged the additional devastation for Mr Scott's loved ones given the distant familial connection between victim and attackers.
Donlin had previously admitted to manslaughter and possession of a knife but was ultimately convicted of murder alongside his mother and sister, who were also found guilty of murder and knife possession charges. The case highlights disturbing intersections of family dynamics, social media culture, and premeditated violence in contemporary criminal proceedings.
