THE mother of killer Maxine Williams has begged magistrates to put her behind bars while she awaits psychiatric assessment rather than leave her alone in the house where her former partner was stabbed to death.

Julie Edwards, of Pantyfynnon Road, Ammanford, made the impassioned plea when she was told that Llanelli magistrates were going to adjourn sentencing the 42-year-old for two counts of assaulting police officers and release her on bail.

Edwards had pleaded guilty to both charges on March 18 alongside current partner Paul Quilligan who had admitted criminal damage and resisting arrest in relation to the same incident.

The earlier hearing was told how plain clothes police officers had spotted 35-year-old Quilligan kicking the wing mirror off a parked car in a Llanelli’s Station Road on November 16.

When the officers confronted Quilligan he resisted arrest and as he was being placed inside the police car, Edwards punched one of the officers and slapped the second. Quilligan, who has been placed on remand after his arrest on March 29 following an affray at the Pantyfynnon Road property, was told that he would remain behind bars until April 29 for the completion of psychiatric reports into his mental health.

After she heard that Quilligan would not be released prior to his sentencing, a weeping Edwards urged magistrates to place her in jail.

“If Paul remains in prison then I would ask for a custodial sentence myself,” Edwards said to magistrates.

“I cannot cope being outside without Paul to help me.

“I do not like being in the house alone after the murder.”

Peter Lowry, defending, said much of Edwards’ problems hinged on the fatal stabbing of Bernard Evans on January 22, 2008.

“There is a clear link between her life events and her offending,” said Mr Lowry.

Magistrates declined Edwards’ plea to be locked up and bailed her. They adjourned sentencing on Edwards until May 13 and on Quilligan until April 29.