Murder conviction being appealed after 'traumatic' case
A woman jailed for 12 years for murdering her partner has lodged an appeal against her conviction, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has said.
Julie Ann McIlwaine, of Hazel Close, Lagmore, stabbed James Joseph Crossley, 38, while he slept at her former home in Filbert Drive in Dunmurry on 2 March 2022.
The 34-year-old had admitted to killing Mr Crossley but denied his murder.
Her sister, Rachel McIlwaine, told BBC News NI a "loss of control" defence should have been accepted in the case.
During the trial the court heard how Julie Anne McIlwaine and James Joseph Crossley were in a relationship marred by domestic abuse and coercive control.
In October 2024, jurors at Coleraine Crown Court rejected her argument and found her guilty after nine hours of deliberations.
Rachel McIlwaine said her sister acted in "an acute stress reaction" and "has to pay for what she did", but she believes a manslaughter conviction would have been more appropriate.
She said her sister accepted what she did and was "very remorseful", and the case had been "very traumatic for all the families involved".
"We have been put through an ordeal that we potentially shouldn't have been put through due to the levels of domestic abuse that were prevalent in this relationship," she told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme.
Rachel also said such a complex case should have been decided by a judge, and not a jury.
"To make these determinations as 12 individual people and come up with a unanimous decision is, I imagine, a very difficult thing. In my mind that legal test should not be a jury but a judge-led trial," she added.
A PPS spokeswoman responded: "The loss of control is a partial defence to murder, which, if accepted by a jury, would reduce the charge to manslaughter.
"This defence was raised by the defendant in this case. The jury, having heard all the facts and circumstances of the case, did not accept this defence and convicted the defendant of murder."
The PPS spokeswoman said it had "a duty to put before the court those cases that meet the test for prosecution".
"This means that there is sufficient evidence to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction and that it is in the public interest to prosecute," she added.
The PPS also responded to criticism of the jury trial.
"The Director of Public Prosecutions can certify a non-jury trial in certain exceptional cases as set out in legislation. This case did not meet any of the legislative criteria for a non-jury trial," the PPS spokeswoman said.
"The defendant has lodged an appeal against conviction, and therefore it would be inappropriate for us to comment further."
The judge, Mr Justice Kinney, described the murder of Mr Crossley as "brutal and savage''.
He told the defendant that after serving the minimum of 12 years in custody, it would be up to parole commissioners to decide whether it was safe to release her back into the community.
At the time of his death, James Crossley was on bail for an assault against McIlwaine and was subject to a restraining order prohibiting him from being in contact with her.
The defence said McIlwaine was suffering from a temporary "stress reaction" brought on by the trauma of her abusive relationship.
The prosecution told the court that the defendant's "rational choices" on the night of the stabbing proved that she was in control of what she was doing.
Following Tuesday's sentencing hearing, Det Insp Michelle Griffin of the PSNI said it has been an "extremely difficult case" involving two people who had been in a "mutually abusive relationship".
She said that it had left "so many family members, including children, totally heartbroken".
Rachel McIlwaine said she had a lot of "empathy" and "sadness" for Mr Crossley's family.
"I have my own brother, and my parents have their own son, and I can't imagine what that loss is like to a family," she said.
Woman who killed partner as he slept jailed for 12 years
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBS News
20 minutes ago
- CBS News
2 sentenced for violent crime spree, murder in Maryland
Two people were sentenced to years in prison for a violent crime spree that started with the murder of a teen and spanned several Maryland counties, according to the Attorney General's Office. Jordan Moses, 18, of Anne Arundel County, was sentenced to 45 years in prison, and Takala Robinson, 22, of Baltimore, was sentenced to 25 years. Their charges stemmed from a long-term investigation into a violent criminal organization that operates in Baltimore, Anne Arundel and Worcester counties, along with Washington, D.C., Attorney General Anthony Brown said. Maryland violent crime spree Court officials said Moses and Robinson's crime spree began in June 2022 with three shootings in 17 hours. The group, which allegedly included juveniles, committed murder before traveling to Ocean City, Maryland, where they committed several armed robberies, according to officials. An investigation found that Moses and Robinson were responsible for the murder of 17-year-old Anthony Johnson, a Glen Burnie student who was killed on June 1, 2022. A few weeks after the murder, Moses and Robinson traveled to Ocean City, where they committed three armed robberies over several days. Both Moses and Robsinson were arrested the following day in Baltimore County. A handgun that was recovered from Moses proved to be consistent with the one used in other crimes committed by the organization, court officials said. Moses was also found to have property that was taken from robbery victims in Ocean City, according to officials. In December 2024, Robinson pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal organization, conspiracy to commit murder and armed robbery. Moses pleaded guilty in January 2025 to participating in a criminal organization, first-degree murder and armed robbery. "This shocking and senseless string of serious crimes traumatized victims and claimed a young man's life, sobering reminders of the devastating damage caused by violent criminal organizations armed with illegal guns," AG Brown said. Crime concerns in Baltimore While crime rates are down to historic levels in Baltimore, juvenile crime continues to be a concern. As of June, the city has recorded a 23.6% drop in homicides, reporting 55 cases so far this year compared to 72 for the same time in 2024. Other crimes, like non-fatal shootings, arson and carjackings are also down compared to 2024. However, on June 3, Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley told WJZ that shoplifting cases are up. He said a small number of juveniles are causing the problem. "We can't continue to put them out there because what's going to happen, we're going to have a tragic event with one of these young people trying to commit a crime and someone who has an open carry permit or whatever it is, they're going to end up getting shot," Worley said. Amid the dip in crime, city leaders have turned their attention to juveniles as the summer begins. In April, Mayor Brandon Scott revealed his Summer Youth Engagement Strategy, an effort to reduce juvenile violence by giving young people activities to participate in when school is out. According to the mayor, the strategy led to a 66% drop in shooting victims and a 31% drop in aggravated assault victims in 2024. Other leaders, like Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates, plan to tackle the issue of juvenile crime through the justice system. In May, Bates released a plan to tackle youth violence in the city by focusing on accountability and collaboration with departments. His plan includes a new prosecution diversion program, which allows individuals facing certain charges to avoid prosecution and instead participate in a supervised program.


News24
an hour ago
- News24
Man, 39, arrested for murder of 14-year-old Likhona Fose in Roodepoort
A 39-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of 14-year-old Likhona Fose, whose half-naked and mutilated body was discovered on a field in Durban Deep, Roodepoort, at the beginning of June. The teenager disappeared on 31 May in Braamfischerville, only to be found lifeless by a passerby the following day. Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said the suspect was taken in for questioning on Monday and was subsequently linked to the teenager's murder. He was formally charged with murder on Tuesday. 'The suspect is expected to appear in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, 11 June 2025. The police's Occult Unit has been working diligently to find the perpetrators following the gruesome murder of the 14-year-old,' added Masondo. Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo previously suggested Likhona could have been targeted because of her sexuality or for muthi-related reasons. Masondo said more arrests could not be ruled out.


New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Homes and Shops Burn in Northern Ireland in Riot Over Sexual Assault Case
The police in Northern Ireland have condemned an outbreak of disorder in the town of Ballymena on Monday night in which 15 officers were injured and houses and shops were set on fire. Officers came under 'sustained attack' for several hours, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, which said in a statement that rioters, many of whom were masked, had thrown petrol bombs, fireworks, heavy masonry and bricks at the police. The statement added that attacks on several houses and businesses, in which some had windows and doors smashed and others were set on fire, were being investigated as racially motivated hate attacks. Three people were evacuated from four homes that were set alight, and some of the 15 officers who were injured required hospital treatment. The violence followed the appearance in court earlier on Monday of two 14-year-old boys who had been charged with serious sexual assault of a teenage girl on Saturday night. Both boys have been charged with attempted oral rape and deny the charges, the BBC reported, adding that they had confirmed their names and ages through a Romanian interpreter. A planned demonstration in Ballymena over the case began at about 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Crowds of people made their way through the town and toward the scene of the alleged assault, Clonavon Terrace. The police said that the procession was 'initially peaceful' and officers were present because of the large number of people who had gathered. But later a number of masked individuals broke away and began to build barricades, stockpiling missiles and attacking properties, the police added. Far-right groups and influencers on social media had amplified news of the assault case and celebrated the violence. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: 'The shocking scenes of disorder on the streets of Ballymena have to be condemned in the strongest terms.' 'I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday's rioting and disorder to think long and hard about their actions,' he added. 'Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk.' A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of riotous and disorderly behavior and other offenses. The police said they were also investigating reports of a petrol bomb attack in the village of Cullybackey, around three miles away, shortly after midnight on Tuesday. A vehicle was set on fire and a nearby property, with a woman and two children inside, was damaged, in what investigators are treating as a racially motivated hate crime.