Man admits murdering wife in shop stabbing

A man who stabbed his estranged wife to death in the shop where she worked has changed his plea to admit murdering her.

Nimalarajah Mathiyaparanam, 47, had previously denied murdering Nilani Nimalarajah, 44, at Low Cost Food and Wine in Bootle, Sefton, in June, where she lived in a flat above with their daughters.

Liverpool Crown Court was earlier shown "harrowing" CCTV footage of the attack and a video from police bodycam of their 17-year-old daughter, who told officers: "He stabbed my mum - I saw him with my own two eyes."

Mathiyaparanam has now pleaded guilty to murder and possessing a bladed article in public. He is due to be sentenced on Friday.

On Wednesday, the defendant wept and wiped his eyes when the video of his daughter was played.

In it she said "I need my mum with me" and asked if she could go to the hospital.

Jurors were earlier shown footage from the Stanley Road shop's CCTV cameras, which showed the stabbing.

Prosecutor Annabel Darlow KC told the jury the defendant had carried out "a merciless, sustained and brutal attack", targeting his wife's head and chest and stabbing her 18 times.

She said Mathiyaparanam had bought a block of knives and duct tape in the hours leading up to the stabbing.

Darlow said the defendant had not been invited to a significant family event and "his reaction was one of the most appalling and premeditated violence".

The court heard he had become violent and an alcoholic after his businesses got into difficulties.

In October 2024, a restraining order barred him from contacting his wife or daughter. He has also pleaded guilty to breaching that order.

He will be sentenced on Friday.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.