Gavin Shaw, a 61-year-old man from Warrington, was sentenced to life imprisonment at Liverpool Crown Court on 2 April 2026 for the murder of his former partner Michele Kennedy, 55, whom he stabbed twice in the chest with a kitchen knife at her home in October 2025 after she began a new relationship while on holiday in Turkey.
Who is Gavin Shaw?
Gavin Shaw, aged 61 at the time of sentencing, was in a long-term relationship with Michele Kennedy that police and prosecutors described as volatile. The two had been together for some years before separating in August 2025, approximately two months before the fatal attack. Shaw lived in the Warrington area and was known to those familiar with the case as a controlling and jealous partner who struggled to accept the end of the relationship.
Shaw pleaded guilty to murder at Liverpool Crown Court on 23 March 2026, meaning Michele Kennedy family was spared a full trial. His guilty plea was taken into account at sentencing but did not alter the mandatory life sentence that follows a murder conviction in England and Wales. He had no significant previous convictions that were reported publicly in connection with the case.
What happened to Michele Kennedy?
Michele Kennedy, 55, was described by those who knew her as a much-loved mother and grandmother — a “much-loved nana” in the words of her family. In the weeks before her death she had started a new relationship after meeting a man on holiday in Turkey with her mother. The pair had continued to see each other following their return to the United Kingdom and had spent time together just days before the fatal attack.
On 13 October 2025, Shaw attended Kennedy home on Manchester Road in Warrington. In the attack that followed, he stabbed her twice in the chest with a kitchen knife. The injuries were severe. Michele Kennedy was taken to hospital but died five days later on 18 October 2025. Shaw was arrested following the attack. Police described his demeanour after the stabbing as someone who “did not seem bothered” by what he had done, a detail that was widely reported in media coverage of the case.
What was the motive for the attack?
Prosecutors presented the case as a murder driven by jealousy and Shaw inability to accept the end of a relationship that had already formally concluded two months earlier. The fact that Michele Kennedy had met a new partner while on holiday — and that the relationship had progressed sufficiently for them to spend time together back in England — appears to have been the immediate trigger for the attack. Cheshire Police described Shaw as having “a clear inability to move on” following the separation.
The case fits a well-established pattern in domestic homicide research: the period immediately following a separation is statistically the most dangerous for people — most often women — who have left or are in the process of leaving a controlling relationship. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 extended coercive control provisions precisely to address this risk, though such legislation cannot prevent all acts of violence by those determined to harm former partners.
What sentence did Gavin Shaw receive?
Gavin Shaw was sentenced to life imprisonment at Liverpool Crown Court on 2 April 2026. The judge imposed a minimum tariff of 14 years and 196 days before Shaw can be considered for release by the Parole Board. This means he will not be eligible to apply for parole until he has served that minimum period. If he is eventually released, he will remain on licence for the rest of his life and can be recalled to prison at any time if he breaches his release conditions.
A life sentence for murder is mandatory in England and Wales — the judge has no discretion on whether to impose it, only on the length of the minimum term. The minimum term reflects the gravity of the individual offence, the offender culpability, and any aggravating or mitigating factors. Shaw guilty plea would typically reduce the minimum term compared to what it might have been following a contested trial. For more information on how life sentences and parole work in England and Wales, see our guide to the Parole Board.
What did police say about the case?
Cheshire Police welcomed the life sentence and paid tribute to Michele Kennedy and her family. Officers noted that Shaw had shown a clear inability to move on from the relationship and that his jealousy had ultimately led him to take Michele Kennedy life. The force reiterated the importance of reporting concerns about controlling or jealous behaviour in a relationship, emphasising that early intervention can sometimes prevent tragedies of this kind.
The case was handled by Cheshire Constabulary and prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service Mersey-Cheshire unit. For those who have a family member serving a life sentence, our guide to sending money to a prisoner and information on how to book a prison visit are available to help families maintain contact during what can be a long and difficult period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gavin Shaw?
Gavin Shaw is a 61-year-old man from Warrington who was convicted of the murder of his former partner Michele Kennedy. He was sentenced to life imprisonment at Liverpool Crown Court on 2 April 2026, with a minimum tariff of 14 years and 196 days. He pleaded guilty to the murder on 23 March 2026.
Who was Michele Kennedy?
Michele Kennedy was a 55-year-old woman from Warrington who was described by her family as a much-loved mother and grandmother. She was fatally stabbed by her former partner Gavin Shaw at her home on Manchester Road, Warrington, on 13 October 2025. She died in hospital five days later on 18 October 2025. At the time of the attack she had recently started a new relationship after a holiday in Turkey.
What sentence did Gavin Shaw receive for murder?
Gavin Shaw was sentenced to life imprisonment, which is the mandatory sentence for murder in England and Wales. The judge set a minimum term of 14 years and 196 days before Shaw can be considered for release by the Parole Board. If and when he is released, he will remain on licence for life and can be recalled to prison at any point if he does not comply with his licence conditions.
Why did Gavin Shaw murder Michele Kennedy?
Prosecutors presented the murder as being motivated by jealousy and Shaw inability to accept the end of his long-term relationship with Michele Kennedy, which had formally ended in August 2025. The immediate trigger was that Michele had begun a new relationship with a man she met on holiday in Turkey. Shaw attacked her at her home just days after Michele had spent time with her new partner. Cheshire Police described Shaw as having a clear inability to move on.
How does the Parole Board decide when a life prisoner can be released?
In England and Wales, a prisoner serving a life sentence for murder cannot be considered for release until they have served their full minimum term as set by the sentencing judge. After that point, the Parole Board can hold a review hearing at which it considers whether the prisoner poses an acceptable risk to the public if released on licence. Release is not automatic and can be refused multiple times. If released, the prisoner remains on licence for life and is subject to recall at any time.
