A convicted cocaine dealer glassed a man who then accidentally stabbed his own mum to death in a pub car park.
Brian Flynn launched a pint glass at Jamie Dempsey's head in the Brambles pub, Kirkby, over an unpaid drug debt.
Dempsey then went on to stab Flynn outside in retaliation, but also fatally knifed his 55-year-old mother Karen Dempsey in the heart as she tried to stop the violence.
According to the Liverpool Echo, Flynn appeared before Liverpool Crown Court on Friday afternoon to be sentenced for his part in the tragic incident. Dempsey was previously cleared of murder by a jury but was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for 19 years.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the mother and son had made arrangements to meet for a drink in the pub on the evening of August 22 2022.
Neil Bisarya, prosecuting, described how 32-year-old Dempsey had raised concerns about potentially seeing Flynn there due to previous animosity between the two in the area.
Jurors heard during his trial that Flynn, 39, "was cross with him because he had run up an unpaid drug debt of some £2,000".
On the night in question, Dempsey and his partner Sarah Van Maren had joined Ms Dempsey who was already in the pub with friends. She left ‘moments later’ to call a taxi, after Flynn had been spotted at a nearby table.
Less than half an hour later, on his return from the toilets, Flynn hurled a glass at Dempsey, hitting him on the back of the head, and started to punch 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.
The pair ended up out on the street where a second brawl broke out, with Dempsey armed with a knife. He stabbed Flynn repeatedly, before a man, referred to in court only as "Male A", and Ms Dempsey attempted to intervene.
The weapon "made contact" with her chest, 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" Flynn was stopped by police nearby and arrested. He too was taken to hospital after suffering significant injuries including a punctured lung, with the most serious stab wound being delivered to his 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. He was later dropped off 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 and claimed to have acted in self-defence after being attacked by Flynn.
Mr Bisarya said: "The incident took place in a busy public house. In a nutshell, but for the actions of Mr Flynn initially throwing the glass, it is likely that Karen Dempsey would have taken that taxi home."
Flynn admitted affray during an earlier hearing. He was jailed for 20 months.
