Gavin Shaw was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years in prison for the murder of his former partner Michele Kennedy
18:00, 03 Apr 2026
Gavin Shaw was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years in prison for the murder of his former partner Michele Kennedy(Image: Cheshire Constabulary / Liverpool ECHO / Marianna Longo)
The detective responsible for ensuring a man who murdered his ex-wife was put behind bars expressed surprise at how calm the killer was when admitting his actions to arresting police officers. Gavin Shaw, 62, sank five pints in the Warrington Conservative Club before travelling to the house of his ex-wife, 55-year-old Michele Kennedy, and plunging a knife twice into her chest on October 13 last year.
Ms Kennedy managed to escape and stumbled outside the front of her house, on Manchester Road in the Cheshire town, where traumatised locals ran to her aid. But instead of fleeing the scene Shaw remained in the vicinity and, when approached by police officers, chillingly responded “it was me”.
Cheshire Constabulary Detective Inspector Eleanor Atkinson, who led the probe, told the ECHO: [He had] a really, really calm demeanour, which is unusual. And he did stay, he didn’t attempt to flee, he didn’t put up any resistance to being arrested. I think perhaps [he] didn’t quite recognise the magnitude of the situation at that point.”
The senior detective added: “We don’t really know at what point he formed his intent to do this. But certainly his demeanour on his way into the house and on his way out of the house and immediately afterwards was very, very calm. Obviously the difficulty in cases like this is we don’t know what happened inside. The only person who could now tell us that is him…it is an unusual kind of reaction, certainly.”
Shaw was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to life in prison with a minimum term of 15 years for the murder of 55-year-old Michele Kennedy on Thursday.
Sentencing, Judge Brian Cummings KC said: “I reject the suggestion that you have demonstrated any meaningful remorse. Remorse means being genuinely sorry for what you have done. I cannot accept that position when, very recently, you were seeking to pass some of the blame onto the victim. You bear sole responsibility for her murder and all of the consequences that have resulted from it.”
Gavin Shaw, 62, was sentenced to a minimum term of 15 years in prison(Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)
The pair had been in a long-term relationship but had separated in August 2025 following a holiday to the Canary Islands. Det Ins Atkinson said: “They had been separated for a couple of months at the time of the incident. So they weren’t living together, although Shaw was living with relatives nearby. They had some kind of history with the police to some extent, not huge.
“And I think it would just be fair to say…it it was at times a difficult relationship. But no serious assault or anything like that had happened in the past, so this was quite out of the blue in terms of what their history looked like.”
During Thursday’s sentencing some of the background of the preceding events were explained during the prosecution’s case. The court heard a few weeks before her murder, Ms Kennedy had gone on holiday to Turkey with her mum, where she met a man, Gordon Riddick, and began a new relationship.
READ MORE: Mum was ‘putting daughter’s ashes in ground’ weeks after their holiday to Turkey
They continued seeing each other in the UK and she spent time with him the weekend before her death, staying together in hotels in Liverpool and Southport. The pair were in communication over WhatsApp until seconds before Shaw ultimately entered her house, discussing the comedian Paul Smith.
Ms Kennedy’s phone was found by police submerged in water in the kitchen sink. A message from Mr Riddick accompanied by 10 heart emojis “would have been visible” on her phone’s screen “immediately prior” to the stabbing, the prosecution said.
Michele Kennedy(Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)
But text messages found on Shaw’s phone led the investigation team to establish that he had discovered his ex’s new relationship. The police probe was centred around the footage of Shaw first arriving at the scene and then the same doorbell showing Ms Kennedy stumble out of the house followed by Shaw.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found passers-by tending to Ms Kennedy. Shaw had gone to his son Adam’s house, who lived on the same road, and confessed to him and his daughter-in-law, Hayley Higgins. He then returned back to the scene, where passing workmen, responding to the injured Ms Kennedy, said “he offered a slight smile” before lighting a cigarette.
The most damning evidence against Shaw came from his own admissions to arresting officers. While being led away in handcuffs, Shaw was heard on the bodycam to say: “That’s what you get when she’s s***ging someone in f***ing Manchester. You don’t have to hold me, I’m getting in the car.”
Moment Gavin Shaw is arrested
Shaw was thereafter heard to ask the arresting officer’s name before saying: “Right, so can we be nice? Even though I’ve done that. Will I get fed tonight? Lot of coppers here, ain’t there?” Having been told “I think it’s ‘cos of the situation pal”, Shaw then adds “you don’t get many stabbings, do you?”. The PC meanwhile replies: “Not in Cheshire mate, not in Cheshire.”
Ms Kennedy was taken to Aintree University Hospital but died on October 18 of her injuries.
Asked about the investigation, Det Ins Atkinson told the ECHO: “In one sense it is one of the more straightforward cases. But you still have to approach every case with the view that this is a homicide, you have to make sure everything is done thoroughly. There were eyewitnesses at the scene, so obviously trying to identify them, talk to all of them, make sure we got their evidence was really important.
“[Then there is] the trauma of it, in terms of the officers who attended, but also supporting Michele’s family. In this case Michele was taken to hospital and was alive for a period of time before she sadly died.”
Gavin Shaw pictured on the body worn camera of a police officer after he stabbed Michele Kennedy to death(Image: Cheshire Police)
She added: “When you arrive first, you have absolutely no idea what’s happened. You don’t know what evidence there is, so you have to just follow a method of making sure that you do everything thoroughly regardless of what the situation is.”
Shaw would later provide a prepared statement where he said he was responsible, but did not mean to kill Ms Kennedy. “We have never really had a full account from him of his actions, of what happened, of why it happened,” said Det Insp Atkinson.
But speaking after Shaw, who remained emotionless throughout proceedings, was sentenced to life in prison, the investigator officer added “it is my belief that he acted out of jealousy and an inability to allow her to move on with her life”.
Ms Kennedy’s family remembered her as a “much loved daughter, mother, sister, auntie and nana”. They added: “She was a larger than life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her, who would help anyone, was beautiful, strong, fearless and one of a kind.”
Det Ins Atkinson said: “[Both Shaw and Ms Kennedy] did have children separately…they’re having to live with this court process, they’re having to live with the loss of a loved one, all of the things that come with that. I think it would be fair to say that they were relatively close, or certainly some of the family members were relatively close across the two families.
“Obviously that presents some real difficulties. It’s really, really challenging [and] a difficult time for them. It’s just a sad waste of a life, isn’t it? And it impacts on all of these different people.”
Senior crown prosecutor Paul Shepherd, of CPS Mersey‑Cheshire, said: “Gavin Shaw murdered his former wife in a violent and deliberate attack that ended her life and devastated those who knew her. This was not a spontaneous or excusable act.
“Michelle Kennedy was entitled to live her life free from fear and violence, particularly in her own home. The Crown Prosecution Service carefully considered the evidence in this case and presented a clear prosecution that led to Shaw admitting his guilt.
“Our thoughts remain with Michelle Kennedy’s family and friends as they continue to come to terms with her death.”
