A pensioner accused of murdering his “soulmate” and drowning her “beloved” guinea pigs claimed that she wanted her pets stuffed after they died of heat stroke in Portugal, a court has heard. Delia McInerney's dismembered body was found inside a freezer at George Gordon's flat on Gerards Court in St Helens in January this year.
But the 62-year-old, from Anfield, was said to have been killed as long ago as April 2023, having apparently been hit over the head with a hammer. She had supposedly been planning to move to Portugal to begin a “new life” only days later.
Neighbour's account
Gordon meanwhile bought a sledgehammer and electric handsaw from eBay in the weeks before Ms McInerney's death before stealing thousands of pounds from her bank account and taking out a £10,000 loan in her name. The 65-year-old is currently on at Liverpool Crown Court accused of her murder.
Junior prosecution counsel Katy Appleton yesterday read the jury of five men and seven women a statement from Amanda Miller, who lived in the flat directly above Gordon, also known as Chris. She said in her account: “People in the flats would call Chris 'Mr Parcel', as he'd have parcels delivered every day. I've lived in the flats for a number of years and was living there when Chris and Delia moved in. I think it was before the covid pandemic.”
While Ms Miller said she did not meet Ms McInerney prior to the pandemic, she added her statement: “I was told by Chris she'd gone to Portugal during lockdown. She was unable to return home due to lockdown restrictions. After lockdown, Delia returned home.”
“I found Delia to be a lovely person. She was always in the garden, sitting, reading and exercising the guinea pigs in a pen. Chris would always be planting plant pots situated under his window. Delia had a little part of the garden where she would plant herbs.”
Claims about Portugal and Australia
Ms Miller recalled that she last saw Ms McInerney “around the Easter of 2023” and said: “I remember Chris telling me Delia had moved back to Portugal, then sold the property in Portugal and moved to Australia. She'd also sent dead guinea pigs back to Chris to get stuffed.”
Gordon was said to have told Ms Miller that these guinea pigs had died as a result of heatstroke while abroad. Her statement continued: “Chris also told me Delia was planning to move to New Zealand and had met a woman over there, and they were planning to get married.”
With Gordon having apparently claimed that Ms McInerney and her girlfriend were having a baby which had been conceived using his frozen sperm, Ms Miller added: “From what Chris said, Delia was meant to be marrying him. However, I don't think they were actually together as a couple.”
“Chris told me and other residents that Delia was violent to him, but I never saw anything. Delia used to tell Chris off as the TV was too loud, as he was partially deaf.”
Smell complaints and last conversation
“Around Christmas 2023, I was minding a German shepherd puppy for my son. This dog started ripping up the flooring near the front door. He never used to do it in any other part of the flat. I now think he may have been able to smell the animals or the body.”
Complaints were made about the smell from his flat. This was after Delia moved away. On Christmas Eve, I spoke with Chris in the communal hallway and he told me he had lots of meat to cook over Christmas.
“Chris told us before Christmas his ex-wife, who he had a daughter with, had died. They had a deal that whoever died last would get the property. He didn't say which property this was. He said she died of natural causes and he had to fly her back from where she was. That was the last conversation we had.”
Martin Reid KC, appearing for the crown, previously told the jury during the prosecution's opening last week: “On the 8th of January this year, the police attended the defendant George Gordon's flat in St Helens. They went there because concerns had been raised by a number of people and agencies about the whereabouts and wellbeing of Delia McInerney.”
“Ms McInerney had been friends with the defendant for many years and spent much of her time living at his flat, although she had her own house in Liverpool and property abroad. Ms McInerney's friends had not seen her for some time. The defendant, for over 18 months, lied to them about her whereabouts and sometimes pretended to be Ms McInerney when communicating with her friends by phone messages or email.”
“Unbeknown to them, but known very well to the defendant, Delia McInerney had died in April 2023 at the defendant's hands. Her dismembered body was found in a chest freezer in the defendant's flat on the 8th of January this year.”
“In the meantime, the defendant fraudulently obtained thousands of pounds from her bank accounts and obtained a loan and credit cards in her name. The defendant admits that he killed Delia McInerney but claims, we understand, that he acted in self-defence.”
Gordon, who is represented by Gordon Cole KC and Philip Tully, denies murder and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal after allegedly drowning five guinea pigs. The trial, before Mr Justice Goose, continues.
