The trial of George Gordon, accused of murdering 62-year-old Delia McInerney, heard opening statements and witness testimony during its first week at Liverpool Crown Court. Gordon denies murder and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Prosecution Opens Case
Martin Reid KC, for the crown, said police attended Gordon's flat on Gerards Court in St Helens on January 8 this year after concerns were raised about Ms McInerney's wellbeing. Her dismembered body was found in a chest freezer, alongside the remains of five guinea pigs.
Ms McInerney, an artist from Anfield, was said to have died in April 2023, just days before she planned to move to Portugal. Gordon admitted killing her but claimed self-defence, the court heard. He allegedly bought a sledgehammer and electric handsaw from eBay in the weeks before her death and later took out a £10,000 loan in her name.
Witness Evidence
Gordon's niece Paula Tillman described him as "a giant teddy bear" and said he loved the guinea pigs, naming one Flo after her nan. She said he kept them on top of the chest freezer where Ms McInerney's body was stored.
Cousin John Lawler told the court Gordon had told him Ms McInerney had gone to Australia, New Zealand, and had a farm in Cornwall. A neighbour, Taylor Johnson, recalled Gordon telling her he and Delia had recently had a baby.
The trial continues and is expected to last up to six weeks.
