Love affair that led to murder

Her eight-year marriage had ended with divorce in August 2000. She lost access to her young sons, Joshua and Dominic, to their father Jason and, because of her heavy drinking, she was only allowed to see the boys under the supervision of her mum, Kathleen Turner.

By the time she met 18-year-old Louise Berry in January 2002 after another failed relationship with a man, Mandy was drinking three bottles of cider every day.

But getting together with Berry, described as quiet and shy, but someone who had ambitions to go to college and better herself, seemed like a wise-move.

Mrs Turner said her daughter was a good person when sober, but added: "Mandy, when drunk, became an argumentative, threatening and sometimes tended to put herself in dangerous situations.

"Louise Berry was a good influence on her. I never saw a bad word said, although they had their arguments." Yet after eight drunken, volatile and jealous months, Berry had been transformed into a killer who smashed her lover's skull with a blunt weapon.

People who knew Berry, especially in the Green Lane area where she grew up, were shocked and stunned when she was arrested and accused of murder.

One resident, who refused to be named, said: "I'd known Louise since she was 11 or 12. She was polite and loving, always laughing and joking. A lovely girl."

Liz Whittle has known Berry since she was of primary school age through coaching her at Blackburn Rovers Ladies football team, and later by teaching her Religious Education at Darwen Vale High School. She predicted a bright future for Berry as a carer because of her compassion for bullied pupils.

"She was initially very shy, but she had determination and sense of humour," she said about Berry's integration into the football team.

"As Louise progressed through the school, she developed into a caring young person. She started to overcome bullying and support younger pupils who were being bullied and encouraged them to talk to a teacher.

"I was aware she had a sense of justice. I found her a caring and compassionate individual and would go out of her way to help others."

So how did this seemingly 'caring girl' become a murderer?

Police looking into the couple's relationship were struck how jealousy and volatility seemed to be increasing over the months like a temperature gauge, destined one day to boil over.

When they met at Berry's step-grandad's home in Brookway, off Livesey Branch Road, they fell in love quickly, indicating a lustful and intense passion.

Just two weeks later they started living together at a friend's house. By March, 2002, Mandy obtained 125 Moorgate Street from Twin Valley Homes, the company which had taken over Blackburn with Darwen Council's council house stock.

Berry had only drunk socially at weekends before meeting Mandy, but during the relationship, vodka soon became a regular tipple.

Volatility surfaced. They split up twice after furious arguments fuelled by drink, with Berry hitting Mandy on one occasion.

Mandy's continuing eye for men was also said to be infuriating Berry.

Despite the acceptance of her sexuality, Berry said she was inexperienced, Mandy being her first serious girlfriend. It was Mandy's first serious lesbian relationship too, but she was much more experienced in love given her 12-year seniority.

The prosecution said that Berry was immature and tried to please Mandy, who would take advantage of this and tease, even torment, her young lover.

By mid-2002, Berry was treated for depression and had been put on Prozac.

But despite the troubles, there were times when they were happy and were seen lovingly walking through Mill Hill hand-in-hand -- although the demons were never far away from the surface.

Berry, giving evidence in court, explained one problem: "I loved her and she said she felt the same. Mandy saw her kids once or twice a month. She missed them and wanted another child, but I didn't want children that early on in life."

In July and August, Mandy was trying to cut down to one bottle of drink a day.

Cider made her difficult, according to friends, so she was drinking vodka and lager, which had brought about a slight improvement.

Berry, meanwhile, was also making plans. She wanted to go to college and build a career, instead of being on the dole.

She had made several abortive attempts at study. She dropped out of a public services course at Blackburn College after only six months in 2000 and then worked as packer at Glasco General Supplies.

When she met Mandy, she was working at Blackburn's Tescos superstore, Hill Street, while studying towards a computer course at the college.

But she gave up both to join Mandy on state benefit-funded drinking.

However after eight-and-half months of being in each other's company all day, Berry felt they were spending too much time together and that it was creating arguments.

She believed returning to college and getting her life back on track would be to their mutual benefit.

All the plans, however, were about to be turned upside down, by the events of August 2002.