Detective Chief Inspector Karen Cummings, who led the Kevin Monteith murder investigation, told the St Helens Reporter how the case took "a number of twists and turns", but, ultimately, the evidence all pointed to Kevin's long-time friend Stephen Keogh.

Keogh, 45, of Lyme Cross Road, Huyton, was jailed for life at Liverpool Crown Court last Friday (June 26) after a jury found him guilty of bludgeoning the 42-year-old Rainhill electrician to death on Holt Lane last November.

Mr Monteith's battered body was found in a pool of blood by his eldest son, Robert, 21, at about 10.30pm on November 22 last year.

Keogh was unanimously convicted of murder after forensic experts discovered traces of Mr Monteith's blood on his watch.

DCI Cummings said: "Obviously we are pleased with the verdict, but would still stress that this was a tragic set of circumstances which has sadly destroyed a number of lives. Kevin Monteith was an average, everyday family man and his death impacted on a large number of people in the local community.

"Our thoughts remain with his family and friends. Whilst this verdict will not bring Mr Monteith back, we hope it allows them to move forward with their lives."

DCI Cummings added: "This was a case that took a number of twists and turns. A question we had to keep asking was 'why would someone want to murder Mr Monteith'? It was clearly a targeted attack.

"Ultimately, the answer lay in the fact that absolutely nothing else came into the inquiry to suggest anyone else was involved. We left no stone unturned and were able to eliminate all other lines of inquiry."

During the six day trial, Keogh was accused of having an "inappropriate relationship" with the victim's wife, Anne, after it was revealed he had exchanged more than 900 text messages with her in the weeks before
Mr Monteith's death.

But in a victim impact statement released by Anne Monteith - who was on holiday in Dublin at the time of her husband's death - the Whiston Hospital nurse insisted that her and Keogh had only ever been friends.

She also said she had been looking forward to celebrating her 25th anniversary with Kevin.

Mrs Monteith said: "He murdered Kevin in a vicious and cowardly attack. He gave Kevin no opportunity to defend himself.

"He was left alone to die in the front garden of our home. None of us had the chance to say goodbye."

Mrs Monteith also described how the killer had been one of the first to offer his support and condolences following the murder.

She added: "To find out Keogh was responsible for Kevin's murder was awful for all of us and to realise he could carry out this horrific attack leaving him alone to die, then knowing our sons Robert and David would come along and find him.

"Keogh was aware I was out of the country and not able to get to my children at the time they needed me."

She said it "added insult to injury" that Keogh had also attended her husband's funeral.

Keogh was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to spend at least 15 years behind bars before being considered for parole.