James Byrne, Simon Allen and David Harrison were found guilty of Jackie Rutter’s murder
James Byrne, Simon Allen and David Harrison were found guilty of Jackie Rutter’s murder
The daughter of Jackie Rutter has told a court that she would “give anything to forget” the moment she turned on the TV and saw images of a crime scene outside her mum’s house. James Byrne, Simon Allen and David Harrison were this week found guilty of the the mum-of-six and grandma-of-five, while Barrie Glynn was convicted of manslaughter.
The 53-year-old victim was shot on the doorstep of her home on Meadowbrook Road in Moreton, back in October 2022. Four men have been on trial at Liverpool Crown Court over the past three months accused of her murder.
The prosecution’s case alleged the shooting was motivated by an apparent “robbery” or “taxing”, in which Ms Rutter’s sons reportedly stole a mobile phone which Byrne and another man, Preston Connolly, had been using to conduct their drug dealing business as part of the “JJ Line”. These two men were then said to have carried out the shooting the following day as Glynn acted as their getaway driver.
Allen meanwhile torched the stolen car used by the killers, having seemingly performed reconnaissance missions on key locations earlier the same evening. Harrison’s home was allegedly used as a base of operations on the night in question.
A fifth defendant, Anna McGinn, was charged with assisting an offender in connection with the fatal shooting, having driven Byrne and her then boyfriend Connolly home in the aftermath. But the latter was not present in the dock, having previously fled the country for Turkey. McGinn was cleared of assisting an offender.
Byrne, Allen and Harrison were unanimously convicted of Jackie’s murder on Wednesday, while Glynn was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority of 10 to one. All four were also unanimously found guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life and arson.
Returning to the same court in order to be sentenced yesterday, Thursday, Byrne was handed a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years behind bars. Allen and Harrison were similarly handed life imprisonments, being ordered to serve at least 28 and 26 years before becoming eligible for release.
Glynn was meanwhile jailed for 30 years, of which he must serve at least two thirds behind bars before he can be freed from prison. One of the defendants was heard to say “joke” as they were led from the dock to the cells.
During the hearing, Nigel Power KC, prosecuting, read a statement to the court on behalf of Jackie’s daughter Louise Rutter, saying: “On the morning I found out my mum had died, I was in North Wales. I remember vividly being told my mum had been shot. I turned on the news and saw the white tent outside my mum’s house. I could not believe it was real. It will be something I will always replay in my memory, even though I would give anything to forget it.”
Ms Rutter said she was left “inconsolable all the way down the motorway” as she returned to Merseyside, adding: “I felt like my whole life had stopped. It’s hard to describe what impact this has had on me, other than making me feel completely numb. I do not feel like the same person as I was before. Although it has been over three years, I feel I’ve not grieved. I still don’t want to think this has happened.
“This has left me fearing for my own life. I feel like I’m always looking over my shoulder, which is not how I lived before this. She will not see me have my first child. She will never meet my baby. She used to tell me, all she wanted for me was a child of my own. My mum was always my best friend. We spoke every single day. I don’t have anyone I can speak to like that. That makes me feel alone and isolated.”
Passing sentence, High Court judge Mr Justice Goose said: “This murder was carefully planned and carried out by you, James Byrne, Simon Allen and David Harrison. Barrie Glynn, you have been found guilty of manslaughter. The jury have not been sure that you intended at least really serious harm but were sure of harm falling short of that intention.
“The victim was Jackie Rutter. She died after staggering back into her home, where she collapsed. While Jackie Rutter’s life was blighted by her addiction, she was nothing to do with the JJ line business. She was an innocent victim of the extreme violence which is common currency among drug dealers. Her death has caused profound grief for the family, with which they must live forever.
“The JJ Line had been humiliated by her sons two days earlier. It was decided by you, Byrne and others, that what had happened would not go unpunished. You did not want to lose face in the violent world of drug dealing. This was a killing for revenge.”
