Anger at day release plans for dangerous Merseyside man who stabbed pregnant ex-wife and threatened to kill another woman from behind bars

Jan 26 2013 by John Siddle, Liverpool Echo

Paul McCarten

A JILTED lover who stabbed his ex-wife as she worked on a supermarket checkout and threatened to shoot another woman while behind bars is being considered for day release.

Paul McCarten, 46, was locked up indefinitely for the public’s protection and branded a serious risk to women by a top judge.

Justice campaigners today called for an urgent rethink over prison service proposals to grant him a temporary release licence.

McCarten, formerly of Dentwood Road, Huyton, was jailed for 11 years in 2002 for the attempted murder of his then wife, Laura.

He plunged a kitchen knife into his ex-wife’s chest in front of stunned shoppers after storming into her workplace at Huyton Asda, killing the unborn baby she was carrying.

Laura, who has reverted to her maiden name McKinlay, survived the frenzy only by virtue of a miracle.

While in prison, McCarten developed a fast-paced relationship with Marie Gosling, an old school friend from Burscough.

They had planned to marry upon his scheduled release from his prison in 2009, only for things to turn rapidly sour.

McCarten had Miss Gosling fearing for her life as he became more aggressive and controlling, ringing her at home and on holiday, demanding to know who she was with.

When she ended the relationship, McCarten's jealousy turned into threats. In a chilling echo of the attack on Laura, he told Miss Gosling he would go to her home or work, “get a knife and put it in you”.

One letter read: “You know what I’m in here for. I wouldn’t think twice about putting a bullet in you,” and, “If you are f****** someone else, you know what will happen. You know what I’m in here for”.

After a trial, McCarten was handed an indeterminate jail sentence – meaning he would only be released when it was safe to do so – after a judge accepted expert reports that he posed a danger to women.