Mother, 26, stabbed to death 'with sword' in front of her four terrified children

By Kerry Harvey
Last updated at 1:51 AM on 15th June 2010

Police have launched a murder hunt after a mother of four was brutally stabbed to death in the street.

Gail Russell, 26, was fatally wounded after a fight broke out at a barbecue at her home in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, at about 9.15pm on Saturday.

Witnesses said she was stabbed with a sword in front of her children Toni, 10, Christina, seven, Charlie, five, and three-year-old Rhian.

It is believed a group of around eight people had spent the evening drinking in the back garden of the woman's home when an argument erupted.

Miss Russell was stabbed a number of times before collapsing in the middle of the road outside her home.

Neighbours heard one of her daughters sobbing: 'Someone has stabbed my mum.'

An ambulance took the woman to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride
But she died later from her injuries. Yesterday police had cordoned off the street and were carrying out door-todoor inquiries.

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: 'We were in the house and we could hear a commotion from outside.

'A group of about eight of them had been in the back garden drinking and having a barbecue.

'There was a lot of shouting and swearing then the next thing we heard was the woman's little girl crying.

'She was sobbing, "Someone has stabbed my mum", and her partner was walking up the street and all we could hear him saying was "My girlfriend. My girlfriend". The guy seemed absolutely distraught by it all.'

The neighbour said that there had been rows at the house before.

'It's not the first time trouble's broken out but you never think it's going to end up with a woman getting killed like that.

'This used to be a quiet street, just full of old folk, but it's getting full of trouble now.'

Next-door neighbour Alice Cummiskey, 75, said she came home to find the young mother lying in the street.

She added: 'It's tragic what's gone on. Gail was a lovely girl and her children were brought up well.

'She had two young boys and two girls. They always had time to stop and say hello. They were very polite.

'Gail had only been living in the flat for a few months but she said she was very happy here and liked the area.'

The four youngsters are staying with relatives as Gail's 'shattered' family comes to terms with their loss.

Three people were arrested today in connection with the death Ms Russell.
Two men aged 29 and 22 and a 24-year-old woman are being held in police custody.

A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal and they were expected to appear in court tomorrow.

Detective Inspector David Tassie, who is leading the investigation said the community was 'genuinely shocked and outraged' at the young mother's death.

He said: 'The support we have received from the local community - who are genuinely shocked and outraged at what has happened - has been quite literally overwhelming.

'My officers and indeed Gail's family are extremely grateful for this support.'

Police increased patrols in the Blantyre area after the young woman's death.

From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1286414/Mother-stabbed-death-sword-terrified-children.html