A man accused of murdering an artist, dismembering her body and concealing it in a freezer for almost three years invented “fantasies” about what had happened to her, a jury heard.
George Gordon, 65, allegedly killed “eccentric” free spirit Delia McInerney, 62, at his flat in St Helens, Merseyside, in April 2023—only days before she was due to begin a new life in Portugal.
Gordon says he acted in self-defence after Ms McInerney attacked him with a knife.
Prosecutors, however, allege that the killing was planned and motivated, at least partly, by “financial gain”. They also claim he killed Ms McInerney’s beloved guinea pigs and placed their bodies in the freezer.
Giving evidence at Liverpool Crown Court, Gordon’s cousin John Lawler—who was also a friend of Ms McInerney—described her as a woman who loved travelling and animals.
Around the time Covid restrictions were lifted in 2021, she told him she planned to move to Australia to be with a man she had met online, he said.
Mr Lawler later lost contact with Ms McInerney in about 2022 and assumed she was living illegally in Australia.
He also lost touch with Gordon until 2025, when he was unexpectedly asked to help clear out the flat.
Artist Delia McInerney, 62, was described as a “free spirit” who planned to move to Portugal with her pets before she disappeared
George Gordon, 65, is accused of murdering Ms McInerney and hiding her dismembered remains, along with her guinea pigs’ bodies, in a chest freezer at his home in St Helens, Merseyside, pictured outside court on a previous occasion
“He was coming up with fantasies,” Mr Lawler told the jury.
“She’d gone to Australia to meet this man Rene. Then she ran away with his girlfriend to New Zealand.
“The girlfriend’s parents in New Zealand were mega rich. This is what he told me.”
He added: “He just kept fantasising about where she was. She was here, she was there, she was moving on everywhere.”
The jury also heard that Gordon claimed Ms McInerney had “a farm in Cornwall”, an account he gave just weeks before his arrest.
He also said she had travelled to “multiple locations”, including Mexico, Peru and Denmark.
During cross-examination by Gordon Cole KC, Mr Lawler said Gordon—who had lived with him for two years after leaving prison in 2013—had told him: “Delia’s stole all my money.”
Mr Lawler said Ms McInerney had been “affectionate” towards Gordon and would give him a “big kiss on the cheek” whenever he cooked for her.
He rejected the suggestion that Ms McInerney had been in “control” of Gordon, describing him as “exceptionally generous” and someone who appeared to enjoy spending money.
She had only shouted at Gordon when he was being “accident prone”, he added.
Police outside Gordon’s home in St Helens after Ms McInerney’s remains were found
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Prosecutors allege that, shortly before the killing, Gordon bought a sledgehammer and cordless handsaw—items they say were “consistent” with the way Ms McInerney died.
He also purchased a copy of the surgical reference book Gray’s Anatomy.
Following her death, Gordon allegedly withdrew thousands of pounds in cash from her bank accounts and fraudulently secured credit cards and loans in her name.
The prosecution further claims that, for 18 months, he impersonated Ms McInerney in phone messages and emails to her friends and relatives. He had described her as his “soulmate” and allegedly told a series of “lies” about where she was.
Jurors were also told that Gordon spoke “a lot” about Ms McInerney to his niece Paula Tillman after he allegedly killed her.
Giving evidence, Ms Tillman said: “He was always talking about Delia, saying that he loved her and missed her.”
Gordon allegedly told Ms Tillman that Ms McInerney had moved to Australia and begun a relationship with a woman. He reportedly claimed he had acted as their “sperm donor”, enabling them to have a child together.
Ms Tillman described her uncle as “a bit of a hoarder”.
She said he kept “lots of animals” and that there was a “stench” coming from his flat.
Ms Tillman said Gordon had once told her that Ms McInerney hit him on the head with a frying pan, leaving him needing hospital treatment.
But she said Ms McInerney appeared to be a “nice woman”, while describing Gordon as “like a giant teddy bear”.
Gordon, who was in the dock after being absent on Wednesday, began crying at that point and wiped tears from his eyes.
A large bruise was clearly visible on the top of his head.
The court heard that Gordon was known as “Mr Parcel” at his block of flats because he would collect deliveries for neighbours when they were out.
He allegedly told neighbour Taylor Johnson that he and Ms McInerney had “not long had a baby” and that she was “pregnant with another” after having her eggs frozen.
Prosecutors allege that Gordon’s “web of lies” began to unravel in December 2025, when a council official contacted benefits staff with concerns about Ms McInerney’s welfare, prompting a safeguarding investigation.
The inquiry eventually led to Gordon, who jurors have heard has a previous fraud conviction.
When police arrived at his flat in January this year, he told officers: “She’s in the freezer.”
Gordon has admitted offences linked to concealing Ms McInerney’s body and fraudulent financial activity following her death.
He denies murder and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
The trial is continuing.