Four accused of murdering Wirral grandmother Jacqueline Rutter appear in court

Jacqueline Rutter, a 53-year-old grandmother, was shot in the chest in her own home on Meadowbrook Road, Moreton, at around 1.00am on October 30, 2022.

After what Merseyside Police described as a “lengthy and complex investigation”, four men were charged with murder on Wednesday (April 9).

Simon Allen, 54, James Byrne, 23, Barrie Glynn, 46, and David Harrison, 58, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court this morning (April 10), charged with the murder of Jacqueline Rutter, as well as possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

Glynn, of Westway, Heswall, and Harrison, of Old Meadow Road, Pensby, appeared in the dock while Byrne, of no fixed address, and Allen, of no fixed address, appeared separately via video link.

Anna McGinn, 25, also appeared in the dock charged with two counts of assisting an offender. McGinn, of Frankby Stiles, indicated not guilty pleas to both charges. The first is that on October 30, 2022, she is alleged to have assisted James Byrne by driving him home knowing or believing him to be guilty of murder.

The second alleges she assisted Preston Connolly by driving him to his home on the same date knowing or believing him to be guilty of murder.

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All four men were remanded in custody to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday (April 14) and no bail applications were made. McGinn was also remanded in custody to appear before the crown court on Monday.

In a statement on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “Criminal proceedings against all five people are now active and it’s extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.

“If you have any information about Jacqueline’s murder and still haven’t come forward, you can still get in touch and speak to our investigation team by sending a direct message on social media to @MerPolCC or call 101 quoting reference number 22000796038. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”