Gemma McCluskie's Father Walks Out As Court Told 'Killer Hacked Her Into Six Pieces'

'Killer Hacked Her Into Six Pieces With Meat Cleaver'

The father of former EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie walked out of court on Thursday as details were given about how her body was hacked into six pieces by her brother.

Gemma's father, Tony McCluskie senior, sat through most of the evidence but decided to leave as further details were given about how her bones had 95 marks where they had been cut or hacked.

Gemma's father Tony McCluskie senior

Professor Sue Black, an expert on dismemberment from the University of Dundee, said it would have taken an experienced person an hour but anyone else could have taken up to three hours or more.

She said the killer had used a knife but switched to a meat cleaver when he was not successful.

Artist's sketch: the defendant Tony McCluskie

Son Tony McCluskie, 35, admits killing the 29-year-old in March last year but claims he has no memory of it.

Miss McCluskie's torso was found in a suitcase in the Regent's Canal in east London, while her limbs were discovered in plastic bags.

Her head was found six months later and she was officially identified by dental records.

The prosecution said pot-smoking McCluskie bludgeoned his sister to death in the flat they shared after a row about an overflowing sink.

Gemma McCluskie played Kerry Skinner in EastEnders

Miss McCluskie played Kerry Skinner, the niece of Ethel Skinner, in the BBC soap in 2001.

Pathologist Dr Simon Poole told the court Miss McCluskie died from being hit over the head with an object such as a bat. She also had a number of bruises on her body from before she died.

Some looked like finger marks from someone grabbing her.

McCluskie, of Pelter Street, Shoreditch, east London, denies murder at the Old Bailey.

The trial was adjourned to tomorrow.

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