Murder suspect ‘attacked with dog chain’ before stabbing man and slashing ex

A murder suspect claimed he was ‘attacked with a dog chain’ before stabbing one man to death, stabbing another in the stomach and slashing his ex-girlfriend in the face.

Ian Scott plunged the gun into Liam Humphreys’ heart before leaving him bleeding and fatally wounded in the stairwell of a block of flats on Hillaby Close in Toxteth. He was said to have been “angry, threatened and determined to fight” with the 28-year-old, friend of the deceased Tamas Jonas and his ex-partner Rebecca Scott – with whom he “argued” following their break-up and “demanded” a debt over £5 and a vacuum cleaner – at the time of the incident.

The 38-year-old then cycled away from the scene, still holding the knife, before “disguising himself” in workman’s clothes and launching a “manhunt”. Scott is currently on trial at Liverpool Crown Court charged with Mr Humphreys’ murder, but claims he acted in self-defence after allegedly being subjected to an “unprovoked attack”.

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He began testifying from the witness box this afternoon, Tuesday. Cross-examined by his counsel, Nigel Power KC, he told the jury he first met Ms Scott around eight months ago after moving into the apartment complex where she was already living.

However, the day before the incident, they had exchanged a series of “petty and childish” messages. Scott was caught on CCTV leaving the flat twice in the hours leading up to the altercation and said of the first occasion shortly before 11.30am: “I was leaving the flat to go to the shop.

“Then I saw Becca. When I came out she was in the garden on the phone with her dog.

“As I passed by and saw Rebecca, I went over to ask about the hoover. When I went up to Becca to ask her, that’s when she started getting abusive – she was telling me to fuck off and calling me weird.”

When asked by Mr Power if he had ‘met similar people’, Scott replied: ‘Yes. Just a little

“Just being petty and arguing a bit. She threatened to hit me with a cup.”

Defense silk continued, “Did you spit on her?”

Scott replied, “Not once.”

Mr Power: “Did you make any physical threats?”

Scott: “Not once.”

Mr. Power: “Did you threaten to shoot anyone in your family?”

Scott: “Not once.”

Scott denies murdering Mr Humphreys, attempting to kill Mr Jonas and wounding with intent against both him and Mrs Scott. The trial, before Mr. Justice Freedman, continues.

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