Kayleigh smart, 39, faces murder charges after a man in his 30s was fatally stabbed in Haydock flat

The quiet streets of Haydock have been rocked by a horrifying stabbing that claimed the life of a man in his 30s, prompting the swift arrest and charging of a woman now accused of murder. Merseyside Police confirmed that 39-year-old Kayleigh Smart has been taken into custody following the fatal incident at a flat on Sherlock Avenue on the night of Friday, 2 May.

Emergency services were called to the property just after 10:25pm. When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from multiple stab wounds. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The brutality of the attack has sent shockwaves through the local community.

In the immediate aftermath, Smart was arrested and later charged with murder. She is expected to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 5 May. Police have also questioned a 40-year-old man in connection with the incident, but he has since been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Ball offered his condolences to the victim’s family, who are now being supported by specially trained officers. “Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with the victim’s family, and they are being supported by our specialist officers at this difficult time,” Ball stated, underscoring the seriousness of the case while reassuring the public that no further suspects are currently being sought.

Forensic officers have since cordoned off the flat and the surrounding area as they continue to comb the scene for evidence. The investigation, though still in its early stages, has already painted a grim picture of a violent encounter that erupted without warning.

Residents of the usually tranquil neighbourhood are stunned. One witness recalled the chaos as emergency vehicles descended upon the street: “There were blue lights everywhere—ambulances, police cars. We knew something terrible had happened.”

The flat, now the focus of a murder investigation, sits on a typically quiet stretch of Sherlock Avenue, where families say such violence is unheard of. Several neighbours expressed disbelief that such a grisly act could unfold on their doorstep.

“It’s frightening,” said one resident, “especially when you live so close. You never think something like this will happen here.”

Police have appealed to anyone with information or footage from the area that evening to come forward. They are particularly interested in dashcam or CCTV footage that may help reconstruct the events leading to the stabbing.

Though investigators are treating this as an isolated incident, the murder has cast a dark shadow over Haydock, stirring fear and unease. Authorities are working diligently to provide answers and ensure justice for the victim and his family.

Kayleigh Smart remains in custody ahead of her first court appearance, where prosecutors are expected to begin outlining the case against her. In the meantime, the victim’s identity has not yet been formally released.

As the forensic work continues and grief grips the local population, residents are leaning on each other for comfort and reassurance. A community that once prided itself on its peaceful character now finds itself at the centre of a murder investigation—a painful reminder of how quickly violence can shatter the ordinary.

With a trial potentially looming, Haydock must now begin the long road toward healing, hoping that answers will soon emerge from the tragedy that unfolded behind closed doors on Sherlock Avenue.