Woman charged with murder as Bootle stab victim named

A woman has been charged with the murder after 44-year-old Gerard Hand was fatally stabbed in Bootle on Wednesday morning. Emergency services were called to an address on Church Walk at around 7.45am and Mr Hand was taken to hospital in a critical condition, but he sadly died.

Amanda McDonnell, 43, has been charged with his murder. A 42-year-old man from Bootle, arrested on suspicion of murder, has been released on bail pending further inquiries.

A police cordon was put in place on Church Walk while crime scene investigators carried out forensic examinations. CCTV and house-to-house inquiries were also conducted in the area.

The family of Mr Hand paid the following tribute: “Gerard was fun-loving and full of life. People who knew Gerard have fond memories and stories to tell. He was a larger-than-life character who loved to be around friends and family. Gerard was happy to share a word with anyone he met.  “Gerard was generous and kind, he would open his door to others even during the more difficult times of his life. Gerard didn’t deserve his life to be taken from him in this way, and will never be forgotten by the family, friends and daughter he has been taken from."