People In Abusive Relationships Urged To Seek Help Following Murder Conviction

Merseyside Police have urged people in abusive or violent relationships to seek help "before the problems escalate", following the conviction of a woman for the murder of her former partner.

Farieissia Martin has been jailed for life, to serve a minimum term of 13 years, after she stabbed her former boyfriend, Kyle Farrell, during a drunken row.

Martin, 21, was heard by neighbours through the walls of her house in Charlcote Street in Dingle threatening to stab Kyle, also 21, during the early hours of 21 November last year. 

During her trial last month, a jury heard that the pair, who were no longer together but had two young children together, had argued over looking after the children. 

Martin went home after a night out with a friend and confronted Farrell, who had been babysitting. An argument ensued and Farrell was stabbed once in the chest with a kitchen knife. Martin told paramedics she was sorry but later denied she was responsible for the attack, claiming instead that there had been an intruder. 

Speaking after the case, DCI Natalie Perischine, the senior investigating officer in the Admiral Street CID investigation, said help was there for male victims of domestic abuse as well as women and urged sufferers to use the new Victim Care Merseyside service. 

She said: "This case is an absolute tragedy for all involved yet perhaps it could have been avoided if either Kyle, Farieissia or both of them together had sought help. 

"Although they were no longer a couple they had two young children together and so saw each other regularly. It was unfortunately sometimes a volatile relationship and our investigation established that there had been verbal and physical abuse from both sides in the past. 

"Tragically this escalated in extreme fashion on the night Farieissia came back from a night drinking at a friend's house. An argument ensued and for reasons no-one will ever know, she stabbed Kyle fatally in the chest. 

"Whether you are a man or a woman, you should not have to suffer or endure verbal or physical abuse from a partner or relative. Victim Care Merseyside can tell you when to get the right kind of support for you and I would urge anyone experiencing these kind of issues not to suffer in silence but instead speak out."

(MH/JP)