A man stabbed his mum, hugged her then left her bleeding to death outside a pub.
Jamie Dempsey today went on trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of murdering his mum Karen Dempsey after fighting broke out at the Brambles in Kirkby in summer last year. A jury heard this afternoon that the son accidentally knifed his 55-year-old mother in the heart while trading blows with another male to whom he owed a drug debt of thousands of pounds.
It came after the 32-year-old was "glassed" inside the premises by Brian Flynn, who was also then stabbed. Afterwards, Dempsey claimed to have been acting in self-defence and told police "I was scared for my life, what do you want me to do?".
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Peter Glenser KC said during the prosecution's opening on Monday that the mum and son had made arrangements to meet for a drink in the pub on the evening of August 22, 2022. Dempsey, of Brechin Road, had raised concerns about potentially seeing his adversary at this location "as there had been unpleasantness between them nearby before".
Jurors were told that Mr Flynn "was cross with him because he had run up an unpaid drug debt of some £2,000". Messages the defendant had sent to Ms Dempsey from his girlfriend's phone beforehand described him as a "d***head" who had "dropped him outside the Tavern" previously, although he said he was not "arsed about it".
CCTV footage from inside the bar showed her sat with friends from around 7.30pm on the night in question. Mr Flynn meanwhile was situated at a table nearby, unbeknown to her.
Dempsey and his partner Sarah Van Maren entered around 10 minutes later and joined her, but "moments later" Ms Dempsey went into the foyer to call a taxi - he having apparently spotted the other man inside. Shortly after 8pm Mr Flynn returned from the toilets and hurled a glass at him, hitting him on the back of the head.
He then "followed up this assault with punches" thrown at him. Ms Dempsey and others managed to restrain him, but he picked up a second glass and again chucked it at Dempsey - who left via the back door.
Mr Flynn meanwhile was escorted out of the front exit, onto Cherryfield Drive. The accused then began walking towards this area, and another confrontation erupted.
The pair began to grapple, with Dempsey now clutching a knife in his right hand. He stabbed Mr Flynn at least twice before a man, referred to in court only as "Male A", and Ms Dempsey attempted to intervene.
The weapon "made contact" with her chest at this point, leaving her with blood pouring down her dress. The fighting then ceased and Dempsey hugged his mum before leaving the area.
She collapsed moments later, the knife having pierced her heart and liver. Ms Dempsey was rushed to Aintree Hospital, but was pronounced dead at 9.45pm.
A "heavily bloodstained" Mr Flynn was stopped by police nearby and arrested. He too was taken to hospital after suffering serious injuries, having suffered a stab wound to the left armpit.
Having fled, Dempsey walked to his aunt's house and told her there had "been a fight and he had stabbed his mother". He took off his clothing and asked his cousin to burn it, although the relative did not do so.
The knifeman then went to an off-licence and bought cans of beer. Later, Dempsey was dropped at Kirkby police station by a friend.
While the police station was closed, he phoned Merseyside Police "to tell them where he was and that he was wanted" - not yet knowing that he had killed his mum. During this call, he said he had used a piece of glass and not a knife during the incident.
Dempsey was heard to say in a recording played to the court: "I’ve been accused of stabbing someone tonight but I haven’t. It was in self-defence.
"There’s been an altercation. I’ve defended myself."
Dempsey also told the operator “he glassed me twice”, adding: "I was scared for my life. What do you want me to do?"
Officers then arrived at the scene, and he was heard in the background asking "can I have a ciggie?" before the call was terminated. Under interview following his arrest, and after learning of his mother's death, Dempsey changed his account and said he had found a knife by the back door of the pub after the initial altercation.
Dempsey, who is defended by Timothy Cray KC, denies murder. The trial, before Judge Dennis Watson KC, continues.
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