Man killed girlfriend with knife through the heart in row over baby

High Court: Christopher O’Reilly was sentenced for knife death.© STV

A man who stabbed his partner through the heart after a row about who could hold a baby has been jailed for more than seven years.

Christopher O’Reilly, 48, stabbed Karen Gallagher, 31, at the flat they shared in Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire, last November, after she was allowed to hold a baby and he was not.

O'Reilly was originally charged with murder but pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of culpable homicide on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Judge Lord Bannatyne sentenced O'Reilly to seven and a half years in prison at Glasgow High Court Friday.

Lord Bannatyne said: "This was a very serious offence involving as it does the death of a young woman resulting from your use of a knife.

"Social workers say that in their opinion you will pose a significant risk of harm to any future partners. You have two previous convictions for crimes of violence."

Lord Bannatyne also ordered O'Reilly to be monitored in the community for four and a half years after his release from prison.

The court was told O'Reilly and Miss Gallagher were at a friend's home on November 23, 2010.

A baby was present and O'Reilly asked could he hold the child, but he was told no.

Prosecutor Jennifer Bain said Miss Gallagher's request was granted which "angered" the accused.

Miss Bain added: "Due to his behaviour, he was asked to leave the property."

The court heard that O'Reilly later met a woman while walking Miss Gallagher's dog and told her: "I have just murdered Karen. I am not kidding."

He then tipped a carrier bag and a knife fell out. O'Reilly then dropped the blade through a letterbox at a nearby property.

The father-of-five was later detained and claimed to officers that he had returned to his flat in Burnfield Road, Thornliebank, and discovered a man lying face down on the floor.

He then said Miss Gallagher was in a chair and he found that she had been stabbed before the male ran out.

O'Reilly claimed he was "totally innocent" regarding his partner's death.

The weapon used to kill Miss Gallagher - a large hunting knife - was recovered and found to be heavily blood smeared.

The court was told that O'Reilly had a "history of psychiatric difficulties".

He had been admitted to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride six months prior to the killing in relation to mental health problems.

Ian Duguid QC, defending, said: "The accused wishes to express his apologies and remorse for the consequences of his actions.

"A comparatively minor altercation about who could hold a baby resulted in the death of Miss Gallagher."

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