Murder trial hears of King's Coronation claims
Merseyside PoliceA man accused of murdering a woman and hiding her body in a freezer told her friends they had been to the King's Coronation and were greeted by Sir Stephen Fry and Dame Joanna Lumley, a court heard.
George Gordon, 65, allegedly murdered his artist "soulmate" Delia McInerney, 62, in April 2023, days before she was due to move to Portugal for a "new life".
Her dismembered body was found in Gordon's flat in St Helens on Merseyside, in January this year, along with her five dead guinea pigs.
The 65-year-old has admitted killing Delia but claims it was self defence and denies her murder.
The trial at Liverpool Crown Court has heard Delia stayed with Gordon at his flat when she was not travelling abroad or at her house in Liverpool.
It is alleged he stole money from her accounts and took out loans and credit cards in her name before he was arrested in January this year.
Her pet guinea pigs were also inside the freezer, the court heard.
After Delia's death, jurors have been told Gordon made internet searches on websites including "Filipino Cupid" and "Asian Dating" and looked up escort girls in Liverpool.
Merseyside PoliceHe also bought himself tickets for the Eurovision song contest final in Liverpool, and took selfies while at the event, the court heard.
It is alleged Gordon, who was known as Chris, came up with "fantasies" about Delia's whereabouts after the killing.
Jurors were shown WhatsApp and email messages allegedly sent from the defendant posing as Delia, telling her friends: "Chris has got an invitation to the Coronation."
The messages went on to claim the pair had been invited to the ceremony as Gordon knew King Charles and had been exchanging Christmas cards with the Royals for 40 years.
'Actors and luvvies'
Further messages sent by Gordon claimed they had been at Westminster Abbey, seated among "actors and luvvies", and he knew some of the clergy, "who was at Cambridge with him".
The message added that Sir Stephen Fry and Dame Joanna Lumley had "called out to us" at the end of the VIP ceremony.
The court heard other messages said Delia was not able to communicate properly as she was in Portugal and had had a brain tumour and was undergoing chemotherapy.
Other messages, sent allegedly by Gordon, told Delia's friends she had met another man and was moving to Australia.
Jurors were also shown a series of loan and credit card applications allegedly made in her name by Gordon after her death.
Gordon denies murder and causing unnecessary suffering to animals.
The trial continues.
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