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| EastEnders' Gemma McCluskie 'killed after sink row' | EastEnders' Gemma McCluskie 'killed after sink row' |
| (12 days later) | |
| The brother of former EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie beat her to death after a row over an overflowing sink, a court has heard. | The brother of former EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie beat her to death after a row over an overflowing sink, a court has heard. |
| The 29-year-old actress thought it was the "last straw" when her brother Tony McCluskie left the taps on at the flat they shared, the Old Bailey heard. | The 29-year-old actress thought it was the "last straw" when her brother Tony McCluskie left the taps on at the flat they shared, the Old Bailey heard. |
| The prosecution said she wanted her brother to move out. | The prosecution said she wanted her brother to move out. |
| McCluskie, 35, of Shoreditch, east London, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder. | |
| Prosecutor Crispin Aylett, QC said McCluskie killed his sister, cut up her body and dumped it in Regent's Canal in east London. | |
| He then led police on a "wild goose chase" after reporting her missing in March last year, jurors heard. | He then led police on a "wild goose chase" after reporting her missing in March last year, jurors heard. |
| 'Permanently stoned' | 'Permanently stoned' |
| Mr Aylett said there had been tension between the siblings for some time, largely as a "result of the defendant's habitual use of cannabis - and its most toxic form, skunk". | Mr Aylett said there had been tension between the siblings for some time, largely as a "result of the defendant's habitual use of cannabis - and its most toxic form, skunk". |
| "Gemma told a friend 'He's permanently stoned. He puts a spliff in his mouth first thing in the morning and doesn't know what he's doing'," the court heard. | "Gemma told a friend 'He's permanently stoned. He puts a spliff in his mouth first thing in the morning and doesn't know what he's doing'," the court heard. |
| The prosecutor told jurors that on 1 March last year, McCluskie got up, went to the bathroom and then forgot that the taps were on in the sink. | |
| "Unsurprisingly, Miss McCluskie was exasperated by this. She had had enough. | "Unsurprisingly, Miss McCluskie was exasperated by this. She had had enough. |
| "Later, while she was out, her friends heard her arguing on the telephone with her brother about what had happened." | "Later, while she was out, her friends heard her arguing on the telephone with her brother about what had happened." |
| Mr Aylett said the next day, McCluskie sent his sister a text pretending she was still alive and ending "Love ya xx". | |
| Her friends had grown anxious about her and had not been able to contact her, he said. | Her friends had grown anxious about her and had not been able to contact her, he said. |
| McCluskie replied to a text message from one her friends: "She didn't take the car, keys are on the side in the kitchen plus we wouldn't know if she took any clothes (as) she (has) so many!" | |
| Torso in suitcase | Torso in suitcase |
| He then reported her missing to police who, from details given to them by McCluskie, categorised her disappearance as low risk. | |
| The defendant also told officers that a former boyfriend owed her money and police should speak to him. | The defendant also told officers that a former boyfriend owed her money and police should speak to him. |
| Two days later, a suitcase containing her torso was discovered in the canal in Hackney. | Two days later, a suitcase containing her torso was discovered in the canal in Hackney. |
| Miss McCluskie had been identified by a small tattoo of a bow on her body. | Miss McCluskie had been identified by a small tattoo of a bow on her body. |
| Over the next fortnight, her arms and legs were recovered separately from the water while her head was not found until September. | Over the next fortnight, her arms and legs were recovered separately from the water while her head was not found until September. |
| The court heard a man matching McCluskie's description and holding a heavy suitcase had taken a minicab to the canal the day after her disappearance. | |
| The prosecutor said blood was found in the boot of the car and McCluskie's father and brother "no doubt with heavy hearts" said they recognised him from CCTV. | |
| The prosecution said it did not accept McCluskie's defence that he did not remember killing her. | |
| "No doubt he did it in the heat of the moment, no doubt he soon came to regret what he had done," added Mr Aylett. | "No doubt he did it in the heat of the moment, no doubt he soon came to regret what he had done," added Mr Aylett. |
| "He did everything he could to put himself beyond suspicion." | "He did everything he could to put himself beyond suspicion." |
| Miss McCluskie played Kerry Skinner, the niece of Ethel Skinner, in the BBC soap in 2001. | Miss McCluskie played Kerry Skinner, the niece of Ethel Skinner, in the BBC soap in 2001. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |