The trial of a pensioner accused of murdering and dismembering his "soul mate" before keeping her body in his freezer for nearly three years has entered its second week at Liverpool Crown Court.
George Gordon, 65, is accused of killing Delia McInerney, 62, from Anfield, who was found dead in his flat on Gerards Court in St Helens in January this year. She is alleged to have been killed as long ago as April 2023, having apparently been hit over the head with a hammer. Her five guinea pigs were also found dead in the flat, with Gordon accused of drowning them.
Friend gives evidence from Portugal
The jury of five men and seven women heard from Susana Antunes, a "really good friend" of Ms McInerney, via video link from Portugal. Ms Antunes said they met in 2017 at a bar in Pedrógão Grande, where Ms McInerney owned property. She described her friend as "a little bit like a conspiracy theorist" and said they spoke regularly on WhatsApp.
Ms Antunes recalled that Gordon, known to her as "Christoph", contacted her in April 2023 to say Ms McInerney had had an accident and was in a coma. He later travelled to Portugal to deal with her property and taxes. Ms Antunes said she was told Ms McInerney was "getting better" before learning of her death in early 2026.
Neighbours describe smells and sightings
Jean Jones, who lived in the same block of flats, told the court she stopped seeing Ms McInerney around 2023 after Gordon said she was "going to Portugal and she's not coming back this time". Ms Jones described a "terrible smell" and flies in the building, saying: "It was shocking. It was disgusting."
Another neighbour, Amanda Miller, said Gordon told her Ms McInerney had moved to Australia, then New Zealand, and that she was planning to marry a woman. Ms Miller recalled that around Christmas 2023, a dog she was minding started ripping up flooring near the front door, which she now thinks may have been due to the smell of animals or a body.
Timeline of the alleged murder
The court heard details of the events on April 11 2023, when Ms McInerney is believed to have been killed. Receipts showed she made purchases at Asda and a petrol station that afternoon. At 6.06pm, Gordon recorded a video of her feeding guinea pigs and a rabbit in his flat, which was said to be "the last time that she was seen alive".
In the early hours of April 12, Gordon is alleged to have used her phone to access her bank accounts and purchase a meat cleaver from Amazon. He subsequently transferred thousands of pounds from her accounts and took out a £10,000 loan in her name.
Portugal trip and alleged deception
The jury was told Gordon flew to Porto on April 24 2023, where he used Ms McInerney's phone to send messages claiming she was in a coma. He took selfies and videos at a hotel, including one showing a "superficial scratch" on his forearm. He also used her phone to send messages about attending the coronation of King Charles and the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool.
Gordon denies murder and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The trial is expected to last up to six weeks in total.
