Man admits killing woman whose body he hid in freezer for three years

Summarised from 2 outlets · 8 reports · Updated 5 Nov, 20:39 · Archive

George Gordon admits killing Delia McInerney but claims self-defence; her dismembered remains were found in his freezer in January after nearly three years.

George Gordon, 65, is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of murdering his friend Delia McInerney, who was 62. Gordon admits killing her but claims self-defence and denies the murder charge. He also denies causing unnecessary suffering to animals. McInerney's dismembered remains were discovered in a chest freezer at Gordon's flat on Gerards Court in St Helens on 8 January this year, alongside the remains of five guinea pigs. Police attended after concerns were raised about her whereabouts and wellbeing.

The prosecution alleges McInerney died in April 2023, days before she was due to move to Portugal for a new life. The court heard that Gordon allegedly told officers at the scene: "She's in there" and "She's in the freezer," clarifying that her body was in two pieces. According to prosecutors, Gordon then obtained thousands of pounds from her bank accounts, took out a £10,000 loan in her name, and bought a sledgehammer and electric handsaw from eBay in the weeks before her death.

The prosecution claims Gordon lied to McInerney's friends for over 18 months about her whereabouts and pretended to be her via email and phone messages. Gordon's cousin told the court that Gordon claimed McInerney was living in various locations including Australia, Cyprus, Spain, Portugal and, in late 2025, Cornwall. The cousin described these claims as fantasies. He testified that Gordon and McInerney had been like "business partners and soulmates" who visited art galleries and took holidays together, and that he had not witnessed physical violence between them, only verbal arguments.

The trial is expected to last six weeks.

How it is being reported

• St Helens murder accused known as 'Mr Parcel' paid for bouncy castle for neighbours' kidsGeorge Gordon is accused of murdering "soul mate" Delia McInerney, whose body was found in his freezerLiverpool Echo · 5 Nov, 20:18
• St Helens murder accused's niece 'in disbelief' after finding out truth about his freezerGeorge Gordon was said to have killed Delia McInerney by hitting her over the head with a hammer nearly three years before it was realised she had diedLiverpool Echo · 5 Nov, 14:23
• Murder accused claimed woman found in freezer was aliveGeorge Gordon, 65, made up "fantasies" Delia McInerney was alive and living abroad, a court hears.BBC Merseyside · 5 Nov, 13:52
• St Helens pensioner claimed he'd hit 'soulmate' over head with hammer in 'mercy killing', court hearsLiverpool Crown Court heard George Gordon kept the dismembered body of 62-year-old Delia McInerney in his freezer for nearly three yearsLiverpool Echo · 5 Nov, 00:01
• 10 key things jury heard from St Helens body in freezer trial todayGeorge Gordon is accused of murdering Delia McInerney, whose body was found in a chest freezerLiverpool Echo · 4 Nov, 22:04
• St Helens murder accused claimed he 'met Stephen Fry at King's Coronation' in 'web of lies', court toldGeorge Gordon is alleged to have posed as Delia McInerney in messages to friends and family following her deathLiverpool Echo · 4 Nov, 19:22
• Man hid woman's body in freezer for three years, jury toldGeorge Gordon, 65, claims he killed his friend Delia McInerney in self defence but denies murder.BBC Merseyside · 4 Nov, 17:11
• St Helens man went to Wetherspoons before killing 'soul mate' and leaving her body in a freezer, court toldGeorge Gordon is accused of murdering Delia McInerney, whose body was found in a chest freezerLiverpool Echo · 4 Nov, 14:51

In this story: George Gordon · Delia McInerney · Liverpool Crown Court · St Helens · Portugal · Martin Reid KC

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log