Every third day, in our #EveryThreeDays campaign, I write about a woman killed by a man. Previously in this campaign, which started on the 2nd of May 2021, we have remembered 52 women, the last being Helen Lancaster, who her husband killed in September 2015.
Today we remember Alyson Watt, 52, a Barnardo’s charity worker, who was murdered by her partner Gary Brown. Alyson lived in Paisley, about a fifteen-minute drive from Glasgow, Scotland. The town is synonymous with the world-famous “Paisley Pattern” – the distinctive fabric design that took the name Paisley around the globe.
The reasons for Brown killing Alyson is not totally clear but evidence suggested their relationship had broken down and that Brown suspected Alyson had a new partner, whom he believed she had kissed a few weeks earlier to his attack.
In a fit of rage, in June 2017, Brown attacked Alyson stabbing her forty-two times while she was at home. He then went on to viciously attack with a hammer Tom 16-year-old boy who lived with Alyson.
One witness came forward at Brown’s subsequent trial where he pleaded not guilty, claiming he had an “abnormality of the mind. The witness said:
“Her hand was dragging down the window…I could see the blood running down. I took to my heels once I saw her. I ran straight to Alyson – into the kitchen at the back door. She was lying on the floor and was in a bad condition. There were wounds to her face and neck – blood was pulsing out. Alyson told me that it was Gary. I asked was it Gary that did it. “She whispered: ‘Yeah.’ She tried to nod, but could not move her head properly.”
The jury found Brown guilty of murder the Judge Lord Summers said at sentencing:
“You have been found guilty of a savage murder. Your stabbing was brutal and violent. No one who heard the evidence will ever forget it. For these crimes, you will receive a long custodial sentence.”
Brown was ordered to serve a minimum of 27 years in prison – he will be eighty-two years of age before being considered for release.
Tragically, Tom now needs 24-hour care because of the severity of the injuries caused by Gary Brown.
Alyson Wyatt lost her life, along with the other fifty-two women who I have remembered in this campaign.
As I often say, “MEN” – just because of an alleged kiss.
Alyson Wyatt
#EveryThreeDays
Authored by Steph @PlaceSteph
