Court story 2- Prosecution Opening Statement 

A manipulated and abused wife was stabbed to death by her separated husband after she

“sought to move on”, Sheffield Crown Court heard today.

Julie Gallagher, 41 years old, was killed by a single stab from a knife to the chest on March

24th

 2010. She was found soaked in blood by her sister and brother-in-law at her address at

Foljambe Road, Eastwood, Rotherham. 

Prosecuting lawyer, Nick Clarke QC, said Mrs. Gallagher would have known the identity of

her killer as there was no forced entry and she was in her pyjamas. She was held at

knifepoint, indicated by two puncture wounds which were found on her neck. Mr. Clarke

said: “She was so scared of this person; she couldn’t put up a fight.” He added: “There were

no random marks of violence that would have been caused by a killer out of control.”  

There was also a targeted search of the house, the court was told. Only a few personal

possessions and the murder weapon were removed from the house; Julie’s mobile phone,

pages from her diary and a letter she had written to herself.

Only a few close friends and George knew about the letter headed: “Just to remind myself.” 

The letter was an emotional plea to remind her not to go back to her estranged husband

and began: “This is just to remind me.” The letter listed the abuse she’d suffered at her

husband’s hands and said: “I may be lonely, but I am not a punch-bag anymore.” 

Julie was known to many of her friends as having suffered violence from George over their

eight year marriage. Mr. Clarke said: “Julie had been seen with bruises to her face, finger

marks on her neck and split lips.” 

Her husband, George Gallagher was already on bail at the time of the incident for allegedly

dragging her out of their marital home in Eldon Road, Eastwood. She allegedly was punched

in the face and then dragged outside by her hair, causing severe grazing to her back. Mr.

Gallagher, however, said she just fell over.  

After this assault in November 2009, her friend Beverley Jackson, landlady of The

Shakespeare pub, persuaded her to leave her husband and press charges. Julie moved

house but later dropped her statement of the assault. The case continues.

Mr. Clarke said how Julie was described by friends as “outgoing”  and had “formed new

relationships” whereas George had not. George was then seen to continue stalking his

separated wife, despite orders not to. He hired motor cars on several occasions to watch

her out socialising.

On the 14th

 February, Valentine’s Day, he hired a motorcar and was seen parked outside the

pub she was in, “The Shakespeare”. There, he maintained a watch until late evening. Her

friends were so concerned, that arrangements were made to see Julie got home without

being followed, the court was told. Julie was killed just over a month later.

Mr. Gallagher denies murder and the 2009 assault and the trial continues.

 

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