Topline: Liam Donlin stabbed Paul Scott in the heart while his sister filmed the act and their mother watched.
Published: March 25, 2026 6:00 am ET
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Left: Joanna Maxwell, Center: Liam Donlin, Right: Amie Clegg (via Lancashire Constabulary)
BLACKBURN, UK — A British woman and her two adult children were sentenced to life in prison on March 20 for the June 2025 murder of a relative who was stabbed on his doorstep while being recorded for social media.
Joanne Maxwell, 44, her son, Liam Donlin, 25, and her daughter, Amie Clegg, 22, appeared in Preston Crown Court following their convictions for the killing of 37-year-old Paul Scott, as reported by the BBC. A jury found the trio guilty after a 13-day trial.
The court sentenced Maxwell to a minimum of 23 years in prison. Donlin received a minimum term of 26 years, while Clegg was sentenced to at least 20 years. Maxwell and Clegg were also convicted of possession of a knife.
The fatal encounter occurred June 22, 2025, in Blackburn, a town in northern England. According to reporting from PEOPLE, Donlin stabbed Scott in the heart as the victim shouted for him to stop.
Clegg used a phone to film the incident for Snapchat while Maxwell watched the stabbing occur, Lancashire Police said in a statement. Investigators said the murder can be heard on the recorded footage.
The motive for the killing stemmed from a September 2024 altercation involving Maxwell and several other individuals, according to police. Although Scott was present during that initial dispute, authorities said his only involvement was attempting to separate the parties.
Following that event, Maxwell sent a series of threatening messages to Scott and others involved. Police said the messages continued through March 2025 and included warnings that “time is ticking.”
On the night of June 21, 2025, Maxwell and Clegg were involved in another argument at a local pub. Donlin, who had recently been released from prison for a separate offense, was with them at the time.
Maxwell and Clegg repeatedly contacted Donlin to recruit him to harm Scott, according to the police statement. The family returned to their residence to retrieve kitchen knives before driving to the victim’s home.
During the drive, Donlin sent audio messages to an associate stating he intended to stab the victim, police said. He also sent voice notes promising to film the killing and post it to Snapchat.
Clegg knocked on Scott’s door because the family believed she had the best chance of getting him to answer, according to investigators. When Scott opened the door, Donlin forced his way inside and stabbed him in the chest.
Clegg contacted police after the stabbing using the name “Emily,” authorities said. When officers arrived at the scene, Maxwell and Clegg told investigators they had simply found Scott in that condition. All three suspects were subsequently arrested and taken into custody.
A post mortem examination concluded that Paul died from the stab wound to his chest. It was so severe that it pierced through skin, tissue and muscle and continued into his heart.
In a victim impact statement read in court, Andrew Scott described his brother’s killing as a premeditated act of brutality. He said his brother was murdered in his own home for what he assumed was “twisted future satisfaction.”
Scott told the court, “Pauly was taken from us in an unimaginable act of cruelty. Murdered in his own home. A premeditated act of brutality against my brother. Recorded. Filmed. Documented.”
Scott said his brother took his final breaths while being filmed by the defendants. “He took his final breaths on film at the hands of these monsters,” he said. “It haunts me to think what was going through his mind in these final moments. As he lay there bleeding to death, I can’t bear to think that these three murderers were the last faces he saw.”
The court confirmed that all three defendants will remain in custody to serve their minimum terms before being considered for parole. Lancashire Police said the sentences reflect the calculated and cold-blooded nature of the attack on Paul Scott.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Snapchat Murder: Mother Recruited Son and Daughter in Recorded Attack
Liam Donlin stabbed Paul Scott in the heart while his sister filmed the act and their mother watched.
By Kate Byrd
Published: March 25, 2026 6:00 am ET
Left: Joanna Maxwell, Center: Liam Donlin, Right: Amie Clegg (via Lancashire Constabulary)
BLACKBURN, UK — A British woman and her two adult children were sentenced to life in prison on March 20 for the June 2025 murder of a relative who was stabbed on his doorstep while being recorded for social media.
Joanne Maxwell, 44, her son, Liam Donlin, 25, and her daughter, Amie Clegg, 22, appeared in Preston Crown Court following their convictions for the killing of 37-year-old Paul Scott, as reported by the BBC. A jury found the trio guilty after a 13-day trial.
The court sentenced Maxwell to a minimum of 23 years in prison. Donlin received a minimum term of 26 years, while Clegg was sentenced to at least 20 years. Maxwell and Clegg were also convicted of possession of a knife.
The fatal encounter occurred June 22, 2025, in Blackburn, a town in northern England. According to reporting from PEOPLE, Donlin stabbed Scott in the heart as the victim shouted for him to stop.
Clegg used a phone to film the incident for Snapchat while Maxwell watched the stabbing occur, Lancashire Police said in a statement. Investigators said the murder can be heard on the recorded footage.
The motive for the killing stemmed from a September 2024 altercation involving Maxwell and several other individuals, according to police. Although Scott was present during that initial dispute, authorities said his only involvement was attempting to separate the parties.
Following that event, Maxwell sent a series of threatening messages to Scott and others involved. Police said the messages continued through March 2025 and included warnings that “time is ticking.”
On the night of June 21, 2025, Maxwell and Clegg were involved in another argument at a local pub. Donlin, who had recently been released from prison for a separate offense, was with them at the time.
Maxwell and Clegg repeatedly contacted Donlin to recruit him to harm Scott, according to the police statement. The family returned to their residence to retrieve kitchen knives before driving to the victim’s home.
During the drive, Donlin sent audio messages to an associate stating he intended to stab the victim, police said. He also sent voice notes promising to film the killing and post it to Snapchat.
Clegg knocked on Scott’s door because the family believed she had the best chance of getting him to answer, according to investigators. When Scott opened the door, Donlin forced his way inside and stabbed him in the chest.
Clegg contacted police after the stabbing using the name “Emily,” authorities said. When officers arrived at the scene, Maxwell and Clegg told investigators they had simply found Scott in that condition. All three suspects were subsequently arrested and taken into custody.
A post mortem examination concluded that Paul died from the stab wound to his chest. It was so severe that it pierced through skin, tissue and muscle and continued into his heart.
In a victim impact statement read in court, Andrew Scott described his brother’s killing as a premeditated act of brutality. He said his brother was murdered in his own home for what he assumed was “twisted future satisfaction.”
Scott told the court, “Pauly was taken from us in an unimaginable act of cruelty. Murdered in his own home. A premeditated act of brutality against my brother. Recorded. Filmed. Documented.”
Scott said his brother took his final breaths while being filmed by the defendants. “He took his final breaths on film at the hands of these monsters,” he said. “It haunts me to think what was going through his mind in these final moments. As he lay there bleeding to death, I can’t bear to think that these three murderers were the last faces he saw.”
The court confirmed that all three defendants will remain in custody to serve their minimum terms before being considered for parole. Lancashire Police said the sentences reflect the calculated and cold-blooded nature of the attack on Paul Scott.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Snapchat Murder: Mother Recruited Son and Daughter in Recorded Attack
Liam Donlin stabbed Paul Scott in the heart while his sister filmed the act and their mother watched.
By Kate Byrd
Published: March 25, 2026 6:00 am ET
Left: Joanna Maxwell, Center: Liam Donlin, Right: Amie Clegg (via Lancashire Constabulary)
BLACKBURN, UK — A British woman and her two adult children were sentenced to life in prison on March 20 for the June 2025 murder of a relative who was stabbed on his doorstep while being recorded for social media.
Joanne Maxwell, 44, her son, Liam Donlin, 25, and her daughter, Amie Clegg, 22, appeared in Preston Crown Court following their convictions for the killing of 37-year-old Paul Scott, as reported by the BBC. A jury found the trio guilty after a 13-day trial.
The court sentenced Maxwell to a minimum of 23 years in prison. Donlin received a minimum term of 26 years, while Clegg was sentenced to at least 20 years. Maxwell and Clegg were also convicted of possession of a knife.
The fatal encounter occurred June 22, 2025, in Blackburn, a town in northern England. According to reporting from PEOPLE, Donlin stabbed Scott in the heart as the victim shouted for him to stop.
Clegg used a phone to film the incident for Snapchat while Maxwell watched the stabbing occur, Lancashire Police said in a statement. Investigators said the murder can be heard on the recorded footage.
The motive for the killing stemmed from a September 2024 altercation involving Maxwell and several other individuals, according to police. Although Scott was present during that initial dispute, authorities said his only involvement was attempting to separate the parties.
Following that event, Maxwell sent a series of threatening messages to Scott and others involved. Police said the messages continued through March 2025 and included warnings that “time is ticking.”
On the night of June 21, 2025, Maxwell and Clegg were involved in another argument at a local pub. Donlin, who had recently been released from prison for a separate offense, was with them at the time.
Maxwell and Clegg repeatedly contacted Donlin to recruit him to harm Scott, according to the police statement. The family returned to their residence to retrieve kitchen knives before driving to the victim’s home.
During the drive, Donlin sent audio messages to an associate stating he intended to stab the victim, police said. He also sent voice notes promising to film the killing and post it to Snapchat.
Clegg knocked on Scott’s door because the family believed she had the best chance of getting him to answer, according to investigators. When Scott opened the door, Donlin forced his way inside and stabbed him in the chest.
Clegg contacted police after the stabbing using the name “Emily,” authorities said. When officers arrived at the scene, Maxwell and Clegg told investigators they had simply found Scott in that condition. All three suspects were subsequently arrested and taken into custody.
A post mortem examination concluded that Paul died from the stab wound to his chest. It was so severe that it pierced through skin, tissue and muscle and continued into his heart.
In a victim impact statement read in court, Andrew Scott described his brother’s killing as a premeditated act of brutality. He said his brother was murdered in his own home for what he assumed was “twisted future satisfaction.”
Scott told the court, “Pauly was taken from us in an unimaginable act of cruelty. Murdered in his own home. A premeditated act of brutality against my brother. Recorded. Filmed. Documented.”
Scott said his brother took his final breaths while being filmed by the defendants. “He took his final breaths on film at the hands of these monsters,” he said. “It haunts me to think what was going through his mind in these final moments. As he lay there bleeding to death, I can’t bear to think that these three murderers were the last faces he saw.”
The court confirmed that all three defendants will remain in custody to serve their minimum terms before being considered for parole. Lancashire Police said the sentences reflect the calculated and cold-blooded nature of the attack on Paul Scott.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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