LISA WALMSLEY'S HORRIFIC ATTEMPT TO KILL HER SONS IN HULME AND CHEADLE HULME

In a chilling case that has shocked the community, Lisa Walmsley, a 52-year-old woman from Stockport, was convicted of attempting to murder her two adult sons in their home located in Cheadle Hulme, near Hulme. The incident unfolded on New Year’s Day in 2020, revealing a disturbing act driven by her feelings of despair and mental health struggles.

According to court reports, Walmsley’s plan was to eliminate her sons through carbon monoxide poisoning by igniting disposable barbecues in their bedrooms. Her intentions were ultimately thwarted when one of her sons managed to alert the authorities, preventing a tragedy that could have resulted in multiple fatalities. The police responded swiftly after the son called his father, who then advised him to contact the police immediately.

Details emerged that Walmsley had previously researched methods of killing her children, revealing a premeditated desire to end their lives. Prosecutor Rob Hall described how, on that day, her behavior was marked by visible anxiety; she was pacing in the kitchen and appeared to be in a state of distress. She entered her sons’ bedrooms and set fire to the disposable barbecues, which emitted dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. When one of the burners was discovered, she falsely claimed that the smoke was caused by burnt toast, attempting to cover her actions.

One of her sons, then aged 21, fled the house in fear after recalling a threat his mother had made years earlier, in which she said she would gas herself and her children. He then called his father, who advised him to contact the police. Meanwhile, Walmsley’s mental state appeared increasingly unstable. She drove around the estate in her BMW with her other son, aged 19, in the car. During this drive, she lit three additional barbecues inside the vehicle, in a further attempt to kill her son. The situation escalated when she stopped in a car park, and her son questioned her about her actions. She responded with a disturbing suggestion: “Why don’t we kill ourselves tonight?”

Her son, initially agreeing, later expressed that what he truly wanted was his mother’s support and help for his own mental health issues. As they sat in the car, his lungs began burning and he started coughing uncontrollably. He managed to get out for fresh air, but the coughing persisted. Walmsley extinguished the barbecues, either by letting them go out or by putting them out herself. She then attempted to buy a different type of burner at Tesco in Stockport, but the store was closed. Despite her insistence that they could not go home, the police arrived at the family home around 1 a.m., finding her other son present and the house filled with high levels of carbon monoxide.

Later, at approximately 4:20 a.m., police conducted a controlled stop on Walmsley’s vehicle and arrested her. The fire service confirmed the presence of dangerous carbon monoxide levels inside the house, indicating the severity of her actions. Her two sons, despite the trauma inflicted, have expressed that they have forgiven their mother, though their relationship has been profoundly damaged, as noted by her legal representative, Richard Simons.

Throughout the proceedings, it was revealed that Walmsley had been suffering from complex mental health issues for a significant period. A medical expert testified that her actions were a direct result of her severe depressive illness. Despite her mental health struggles, Walmsley was described as a caring and loving mother who had dedicated her life to her children, often putting their needs above her own. The court heard that she perceived her situation as hopeless and distressing, feeling powerless to protect herself or her sons in any other way.

Walmsley expressed deep remorse and shame for her actions, acknowledging her regret. She pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder at an earlier hearing. Judge Patrick Field QC sentenced her to five years and four months in prison, noting that her mental health issues reduced her level of blameworthiness. The judge emphasized the disturbing nature of her premeditated attempts to kill her sons, highlighting her feelings of despair and helplessness that drove her to such extreme measures. This case remains a stark reminder of the devastating impact mental health problems can have, especially when combined with feelings of hopelessness and despair.