Man stabbed neighbour, 79, and knifed her disabled daughter to death after ‘prolonged feud’
Audrey Couperthwaite described her daughter's horrific last moments as Oliver Faughey, 63, came at them with a knife
A MAN has brutally killed his disabled neighbour and stabbed her elderly mum four times after a “prolonged feud”.
Oliver Faughey, 63, admitted stabbing Maylyn Couperthwaite, 52, to death at her home in Bury, in February of this year.
The victim’s distraught mum Audrey, 79, described the horrifying ordeal.
She told how Faughey came “running” towards the pair with a blade clutched in his hand before plunging it repeatedly into his victims.
And she revealed her tragic daughter’s terrified last words before her brutal slaying: “Mum, he’s coming.”
Audrey said: “Every day has been emotional. I'm alright physically, but not mentally.
“She was not just my daughter, she was my partner.
“I want as many people to know what happened and stop it from happening to anyone else.”
The frail 79-year-old – who uses a four-wheeled frame to walk – said Faughey would hurl abuse at her and Maylyn in the street.
She also said he would stare at her daughter – who lived only a few minutes from her.
Audrey claimed to have reported the matter to the housing association, Six Town Housing, but said no action was taken.
Fighting back tears she said: “We had a hell of a life with that man for five-and-a-half years.
“Nothing was done. I have lost count of how many times I reported it.
“I told them time and time again.”
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Describing the day of the fateful incident, she said: “I was just leaving to go home, I had been up to see her.
“I heard her shout... it's the last thing she said – 'Mum he’s coming' – and he was coming running.
“I saw the knife. I said 'ring the police'. He brought me straight down.”
Brave Audrey managed to call for help on her mobile as she lay on the floor wounded – but was unable to save her daughter.
She continued: “I just lay there and then as he went out he stabbed me in my arm.
“That man deserves putting away for life.”
Justice Kathryn Thirlwall praised her “great strength and fortitude”, and told Faughey: “It's quite clear to me having read the papers there had been a prolonged animosity from you towards your neighbour and she was clearly frightened of you.”
Faughey pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and manslaughter – a charge that was accepted by prosecutors because of his “diminished responsibility” due to suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.
Justice Thirlwall imposed an interim hospital order under the Mental Health Act to allow for medical evidence to be collected before sentencing.
He will now be placed at a medium secure unit at Prestwich Hospital’s Edenfield Centre.
But the judge warned: “Whatever sentence I pass on you, you are going to be in custody for many years.”
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