By James Simons-
A man has admitted murdering his pregnant girlfriend after she was stabbed 40 times with a pair of scissors.
Liam Taylor, 37, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to killing Ailish Walsh, 28, who was 22 weeks pregnant when she suffered more than 40 puncture wounds.
She was found at her home on Rectory Road in Hackney, east London, on 15 December after what was described as an “exceptionally brutal” attack.
The victim’s father afterwards found her unconscious and covered in blood.
She was covered with a high-visibility jacket with the defendant’s bank card in the pocket.
Her father found the 28-year-old unconscious in the bedroom and covered with a high-vis jacket that contained Taylor’s bank card.
Bloodied scissors and two dumbbells were found nearby and Ms Walsh was later pronounces dead.
Barrister Jane Osborne KC previously told a hearing: “The attack was exceptionally brutal and carried out knowing Ms Walsh was carrying the defendant’s child.
“There was a 12-week scan picture and at 22 weeks it would have been fairly evident.”
CCTV showed Taylor, 37, entering a communal entrance at 8.36pm on the night of the attack and leaving at 9.14pm.
The Old Bailey was told a friend of the victim had also called shortly before he left, hearing screams and sounds of fighting in the background.
She called after Ms Walsh sent messages saying she was trying to get Taylor out her Hackney flat as he was taking drugs.
The killer was found to have cannabis, cocaine and alcohol in his system when he was arrested at home the next day.
“It’s crazy how one moment of madness can change your whole life,” he told police as he was detained.
The court heard he had a conviction for attacking his mother with a pole, and was also cautioned for headbutting his sister when she was 16.
Taylor, of Hornsey in east London, pleaded guilty to Ms Walsh’s murder on Monday and will return to the Old Bailey on 10 May to arrange a date for sentencing.