Man jailed for 14 years for killing his uncle in Liverpool

Liam Elms was supposed to be caring for Paul Lavery when he died

Author: Louisa KingPublished 20th Sep 2024
Last updated 20th Sep 2024

Merseyside Police have welcomed the sentencing of Liam Elms to 14 years in prison, for the manslaughter of his uncle Paul Lavery in West Derby earlier this year. Elms will also serve an extended four years on licence.

Elms, 41, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court today, Friday 20 September.

At around 1am on Wednesday 24 January 2024, Mr Lavery, 58, was found outside a property on Eaton Road, having sustained serious injuries. Elms was arrested nearby.

Following treatment, Mr Lavery sadly passed away in hospital at the end of January.

Detective Inspector Daniel McWhinnie said: "Paul Lavery was a vulnerable man in poor health, who was in the care of his nephew Liam Elms.

"However, in January, Elms inflicted appalling injuries on his uncle, and then left him outside in a critically injured state. Immediately after Paul Lavery was found, officers arrested Elms and found him to be in a highly aggressive and threatening state. He was arrested that night on suspicion of assault and the following day, rearrested in custody on suspicion of attempted murder.

"Sadly, Paul never regained consciousness, despite the best efforts of medical staff.

"I'd like to thank Paul's family for their patience and bravery during this heart-breaking process, one made all the harder to bear by the refusal of Elms to admit what he had done. We hope that today's outcome does at least provide some comfort and a sense of justice having been served." Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.