Headless torso feared to be that of missing EastEnders actress

[michael21]

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/headless-torso-feared-to-be-that-of-missing-eastenders-actress-3043505.html

A 35-year-old man has been arrested after a headless torso, believed to be that of Gemma McCluskie, a former EastEnders actress, was dragged from Regent’s Canal in East London.

The limbless body was discovered near to the Broadway Market stretch of Regent’s Canal in Hackney, London, yesterday afternoon.

Miss McCluskie, who appeared in more than 30 episodes of the BBC soap as Kerry Skinner in 2001, disappeared from her home in Bethnal Green, last Thursday.

Her brother Danny joined more than 100 people who had been carrying out searches across east London and handing out leaflets.

Former co-stars Natalie Cassidy, Martine McCutcheon and Brooke Kinsella joined the Twitter appeal for help finding her.

Ms Kinsella tweeted: “Please get in touch if you have seen her.” Her phone had not been switched on since last Thursday afternoon.

Detectives, who launched a murder investigation after discovering the body, said the suspect remains in custody at an east London police station. McCluskie’s family were said to be “fearing the worst”.

A spokeswoman said: “At this early stage officers believe they know the identity of the victim but must await further forensic tests before formal identification can take place.

“Police were initially contacted by a member of the public who had noticed something suspicious floating in the water.

“The torso was recovered by divers from the Met’s Marine Support Unit and additional searches are due to be carried out in the water.”

A post-mortem examination was taking place at Poplar Mortuary as an incident room was opened in Barking. Detective Inspector John Nicholson is leading the murder inquiry.

McCluskie’s character was a friend of Zoe Slater and the great niece of the late Ethel Skinner. Skinner was written out of the Albert Square soap after the breakdown of a relationship with the character Robbie Jackson.

McCluskie’s older brother Tony said that her disappearance was “completely'” out of character and that she had never been missing before. Before the torso find, he said: “We are going out of our mind with worry. She is a bubbly, outgoing, strong and independent woman.”

McCluskie was wearing a mustard-coloured top, blue leggings, dark brown Ugg boots and large sunglasses before she went missing. She is also believed to have have been carrying a small Louis Vuitton handbag with her.

Police were treating the death as “unexplained” pending the results of the post-mortem.


:bawling:

[Marsh.]

I knew they'd found a body, but headless and limbless?? That's awful.

[Saph]

McCluskie was wearing a mustard-coloured top, blue leggings, dark brown Ugg boots and large sunglasses before she went missing.

:shocked:

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17290560

The arrested man is believed to be her brother Tony McCluskie.

[Me. I Am Salman]

What?

[Ammi]

...her brother!!

[arista]

...her brother!!


Yes Reported on ITV1 London News

[bbfan1991]

Oh gosh that is awful:(.

[Patrick]

*Was going to say it would make a good Soap storyline but now's not the time*

That's bad. :( What character was it though out of interest? Like what was her purpose?
30 Episodes - she sounds like an irrelevant character?

[Me. I Am Salman]

*Was going to say it would make a good Soap storyline but now's not the time*

That's bad. :( What character was it though out of interest? Like what was her purpose?
30 Episodes - she sounds like an irrelevant character?

McCluskie's EastEnders character Kerry Skinner was a close friend of Zoe Slater in the soap, and the great niece of Ethel Skinner. She also dated Robbie Jackson, who proposed to her at one stage.
..

[Kizzy]

WOW that is actually like an eastenders storyline :/ when the news reader said they were questioning her brother doof doof moment or what?

[Niamh.]

That sounds really gruesome :/

[Callum]

How tragic. Thoughts go out to her family and friends.

[Kazanne]

I asked earlier who this was as i am an avid EE fan and can't remember her,and it seems most others on the thread couldn't either,what a terrible thing to happen to her and they say they have arrested her brother!

[InOne]

aFn9b9SF1F8

Her final time in EE. Think I remember her a bit :suspect:

[InOne]

comes in around 2mins

[Kizzy]

I think i recognise her, not from EE from grange hill.... i may be wrong, it has been known lol

[Jords]

Thats sickening :bored:

[waterhog]

I think i recognise her, not from EE from grange hill.... i may be wrong, it has been known lol



you got a good memory kizzy - grange hill was like 30000 years ago lol

[MTVN]

Now been confirmed it was her http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17319303

[Ninastar]

that's awful D:

[InOne]

Awful :(

[Me. I Am Salman]

That is just sad

[Angus]

Her brother Tony has now been charged with her murder. I feel so sorry for the mother who is suffering with brain cancer. Imagine losing your daughter in such a gruesome way and then being told your son was responsible. Just so unbelievably awful.

[waterhog]

the whole story is horrible. so sad i feel.

[Mrluvaluva]

Police believe an arm found floating in a London canal is connected to the murder of the EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie whose headless torso was found in the same stretch of water.

The limb was spotted in the Regent's Canal in Hackney by a British Waterways employee on Monday - two weeks after the 29-year-old's mutilated body was found.

Divers have been searching the water in a bid to find her remaining missing body parts.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police were called at 9.35am yesterday to reports of an arm found in the Regent's Canal in Hackney.

"Officers attended and recovered the limb close to the Broadway Market stretch of the canal.
"We await further tests to determine identity, but at this stage it is believed to be connected to the murder of Gemma McCluskie."


more.. (http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16192735)

[Kizzy]

urgh, glad it was not a kid who found it :(

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19540743

The head was found near Kingsland Road, Hackney, by a member of the public at about 13:15 BST on Sunday. It is yet to be identified by police.

In March, the decapitated torso of ex-EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie was found less than a mile from where the head has been discovered.

The limbless body of Miss McCluskie, 29, was found near Broadway Market.

A police spokesman said: "We can confirm that a head was recovered from Regent's Canal yesterday afternoon. It is still yet to be identified."

:eek:

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19757357

The brother of former EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie has accepted responsibility for her death.

Tony McCluskie, 35, will face a trial on 14 January at the Old Bailey where the issue will be whether it was murder or manslaughter.

:idc:

[Munchkins]

Absolutely horrific story :(

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21014793

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 prosecution said she wanted her brother to move out.

Mr McCluskie, 35, of Shoreditch, east London, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder.

Prosecutor Crispin Aylett, QC said Mr 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.

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.

The prosecutor told jurors that on 1 March last year, Mr 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.

"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, Mr 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.

Mr 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!"

He then reported her missing to police who, from details given to them by Mr 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.

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.

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 Mr 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 Mr McCluskie's father and brother "no doubt with heavy hearts" said they recognised him from CCTV.

The prosecution said it did not accept Mr 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.

"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.

The trial continues.

Barbaric ..... :eek:

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21227557

The brother of former EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie has been found guilty of her murder and told he will serve at least 20 years in jail.

Tony McCluskie, 35, of Shoreditch, east London, had admitted manslaughter at the Old Bailey but denied her murder.

Miss McCluskie's torso was found in Regent's Canal, Hackney, last March. Other body parts were found later.

The 29-year-old actress played Kerry Skinner, the niece of Ethel Skinner, in the BBC soap in 2001.

McCluskie was found guilty by an 11-1 majority.

I hope he rots in jail ..... :hmph:

[Slevin]

he should be in for life