Maxine Showers murder: Michael Williams jailed for life
A man has been jailed for life for the murder of a mother-of-three whose body was found in an alleyway.
Michael Williams, 29, had admitted manslaughter but denied murdering Maxine Showers, 42, in the Fairfield area of Liverpool in September 2015.
A post-mortem examination found she died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head.
At Liverpool Crown Court, Williams, of Hinton Street, Fairfield, was told he must serve a minimum of 22 years.
Williams pleaded guilty to manslaughter in January, but this was not accepted by prosecutors, leading to the murder trial.
Ms Showers' body was discovered in an alleyway between Hinton Street and Parton Street on 28 September.
Det Ch Insp Mark Tivendale of Merseyside Police said: "This has been a devastating ordeal for her family and friends, and our thoughts are with them as they continue to come to terms with Maxine's death and this verdict.
"Maxine was subjected to a brutal attack by Williams, who then despicably tried to justify his violent actions by accusing her of theft and provocation."