Rianna Hull threatened key witness in brother's murder trial

On the day she was due to stand trial at the city’s crown court, 32-year-old Rianna Kate Hull entered a guilty plea to witness intimidation on October 26 last year, the day after her brother Kane Hull was jailed for life.

Rianna Hull's charge related to her threatening a woman who gave evidence for the prosecution in her brother's murder trial.

Kane Hull, 29, and his friend Liam Porter, 33, were given life sentences the day before the incident for murdering 24-year-old Carlisle man Ryan Kirkpatrick in a horrifying city centre knife attack a year earlier. 

The charge admitted by Rianna Hull states that she threatened to "take revenge" and “inflict violence” on the woman and her family following the murder trial, during which the witness identified Hull as the knife-wielding killer.

Rianna Hull also admitted a racially aggravated assault "by beating" on the witness's partner during the same incident. CCTV footage showed Rianna Hull striding towards the man on Botchergate and pushing him.

She also racially abused him.

Rianna Hull’s co-defendant Leon Lavelle, 40, admitted using racially aggravated threatening behaviour towards the same man, the female victim's partner.

The incident that led to the charges against Hull, of Mayson Street, Currock, Carlisle, and Lavelle, of Oakleigh Way, Botcherby, happened outside a Botchergate barber’s shop, an earlier hearing was told.

The court heard that Hull cares for a young child and that her mental health would feature as part of the background mitigation for the offences.

Judge Nicholas Barker adjourned sentence on both defendants until January 19, ruling that the Probation Service should prepare background reports on both defendants. He warned them both to abide by their bail conditions.

These include a stipulation that they must have no contact with the victims. Judge Barker warned that any breach of those bail conditions could result in the defendants being remanded in custody.

On October 25 last year, Kane Hull and Porter were given life sentences after a jury convicted them of murder.

Hull will serve a minimum term of 28 years while Porter was told that he will not be eligible for parole for 26 years.

Their trial heard that Hull was motivated by a desire for revenge after he was jailed for attacking Mr Kirkpatrick in 2017.

After fatally stabbing Mr Kirkpatrick, who was socialising with friends following a Christening at Wreay village, Hull and his accomplice fled first to Scotland, then on to the Republic of Ireland.

They were eventually extradited to face trial in Carlisle.