These are the latest ECHO headlines this morning.
Four murder investigations launched in Merseyside in just one week
Communities are in shock and disbelief as four murder investigations were launched across Merseyside in just one week.
Families across the region were torn apart as two men men and two women were found dead in their own homes in the space of one week. The first incident took place on Sunday, May 8 when police rushed to a house on Longmoor Lane in Fazakerly after reports of a man falling from the upstairs window of a property.
Paramedics also attended the scene and rushed the man, in his 40s, to hospital where he died. The second incident came to light on Wednesday, May 11 when police received calls at 8.30am reporting a woman was found dead inside a house in Huyton.
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Once at the scene officers found a 43-year-old woman with multiple stab wounds. She died at the scene. The following day a woman in Birkenhead was found dead in her flat on Vittoria Close.
The two deaths led to Merseyside Police sending an urgent message to domestic abuse victims and urged them to come forward. A fourth murder investigation was launched when a man was found dead in a house of multiple occupancy in Tuebrook.
Read the full story here.
Man suspected of murdering 'sweetheart' woman named
A man suspected of murdering a woman in her home was named by police.
Merseyside Police were called to a flat in Vittoria Court in Birkenhead, at around 7.15pm on Thursday, May 12 following reports of to a report of concern for the welfare of Karen Wheeler, 62. Paramedics attended but Karen was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have now charged Mark Wheeler, 51, of Vittoria Close with her murder. He was remanded into custody and will appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Tuesday, May 17.
Read more here.
Woman 'ragged' love rival along the ground by hair in ugly street attack
A woman "ragged" her love rival up and down the street in a "prolonged and persistent" assault.
Liverpool Crown Court was shown shocking video footage of the incident which took place in the early hours of the morning in St Helens on January 15 this year.
Rebecca Chisnall, 23, of Newton Road, Parr in St Helens, appeared in court for sentencing after she pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The court heard the background to the case was long-standing animosity between her and the victim, mum-of-two Rebecca McGrath.
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Both women had been in a relationship with the same man, who had had two children with Miss McGrath. At the time of the assault he was with Chisnall, who falsely accused Miss McGrath of not allowing him to "see his kids."
Chris Taylor, prosecuting, said the victim had been "out and about" in St Helens town centre on the night in question when the pair first clashed, which resulted in the victim being thrown out of a bar.
They next came together in the early hours of the following morning near a taxi rank, when Chisnall grabbed and dragged Miss McGrath to the floor. She then drags her across the ground by her hair and continues the assault when the victim tried to get to her feet.
Read the full story here.
