Jacqueline Rutter, 53, was shot in the chest at her home in 2022
Four men sentenced after grandmother Jacqueline Rutter shot and killed
‘Calculated’ killers fired shots at an unsuspecting grandmother as she opened her front door.
Jacqueline Rutter, 53, was shot in the chest at her Merseyside home in 2022.
Now, more than three years later, four men have now been jailed for a total of 124 years for their roles in her tragic death.
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Merseyside Police were called to Jacqueline’s address in Moreton, Wirral, in the early hours of October 30, 2022 following a report she’d been found inside with gunshot wounds.
Jacqueline was sadly pronounced dead at the scene with an injury to her chest.
Three men had arrived at the property in a black Vauxhall Insignia at 1am.
Two passengers got out of the back – one of who was James Byrne – and went to Jacqueline’s front door.
She was shot twice at close range when she answered.
The two men got back into the car, which was driven by Barrie Glynn.
The car was later set alight in the Moreton area by a fourth man – Simon Allen – who had been waiting with two other vehicles, a silver Ford and a Yamaha motorbike.
The four men fled the scene, three in the silver car and one on the motorbike.
David Harrison was later involved in transporting the other men before and after the murder and assisted in the clear up operation.
Following a trial that lasted more than three months, Allen, 55, of no fixed abode, Byrne, 24, of no fixed abode, and Harrison, 59, of Old Meadow Road, in Pensby were convicted of murder, arson and possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
Glynn, 47, of Westway, Heswall, was convicted of manslaughter, possession of firearms and ammunition and arson with intent to endanger life.
Allen was jailed for 28 years for Jacqueline’s murder, and given 14 years for firearms offences and three years for arson to run concurrently.
Byrne was sentenced to 40 years for murder, eight years for firearms offences and two years for arson to run concurrently.
Harrison was sentenced to 26 years, 10 years for firearms offences and two years for arson to run concurrently.
Glynn was sentenced to 30 years of which he must serve at least two thirds behind bars before becoming eligible for release.
During the sentencing hearing on Thursday, January 29, High Court Judge Justice Goose said: “This murder was thought out and carried out by you, James Byrne, Simon Allen and David Harrison.
“Barrie Glynn, you have been found guilty of manslaughter.
“The jury have not been sure you intended at least really serious harm but sure of harm falling short of that intention.
“She (Jacqueline Rutter) was an innocent victim of the extreme violence which is common currency among drug dealers.
“Her death has caused profound grief for the family, with which she must live forever.”
A victim impact statement from Jacqueline’s daughter-in-law, Jemma Rixon, was also read tot he court.
She said : “To us she (Jacqueline Rutter) had a heart of gold and loved everybody, Jackie didn’t have a bad bone in her body.
“She will not be defined by what’s happened to her. Instead, she will be remembered as the beautiful mother and grandmother she was.
“Because of you all, James Byrne, Barrie Glynn, David Harrison and Simon Allen, Jackie’s life was so cruelly cut short.
“She has been robbed of her future and will miss important milestones.
“You had no right to take her from us. Jackie’s final moments should have been surrounded by her loved ones telling her how much she loved. Instead she died in fear.”
Following the sentencing, senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Stephen McGrath, said: “Four men have today been jailed for the murder of Jacqueline Rutter in Moreton over three years ago on Sunday 30 October 2022.
“Jackie, as her family and friends called her, was a mum-of six and grandma-of-five who was fatally shot and killed in her own home, where she had every right to feel safe.
“The callous actions of Byrne, Allen, Harrison and Glynn on that night, firing at their victim at close range as she opened her front door, shows how violent and calculated this murder was.
“As a result of their reckless actions, Jackie’s family and friends were left devastated by their loss.
“Today all four convicted men are behind bars where they rightly belong and where I hope they will now spend their time considering the impact of their actions.
“I hope too that this result brings Jackie’s family some small amount of comfort and that it serves as a deterrent to anyone carrying a gun in Merseyside.
“Our officers remain committed to removing guns and those who choose to store, carry and use them from the streets of Merseyside.
“I would like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service and our officers and staff from Merseyside Police who were involved in the case over the past three years for their dedication and hard work, which has been key to the investigation and allowed us to successfully prosecute Byrne, Allen, Harrison and Glynn and get justice for Jackie and her family.”
