Two cousins have been found guilty of murder after a father was found ‘dismembered’ in suitcases in a park.
Aaron Evitt and Gerard McGlacken beheaded and dismembered their former girlfriend Ashley Walsh, 34, after the ‘loving’ father went out for drinks with the pair in Manchester.
There was an argument at McGlacken’s Collyhurst flat and Evitt hit Aaron in the head with a hammer in January 2022 when 45-year-old McGlacken, who was fueled by cocaine, stabbed him.
McGlacken admitted to brutally dismembering his friend – while his cousin claims he was “blacked out drunk” – before stuffing his remains in bin bags and taking them to Sandhills Park in four suitcases.
Evitt, 33, and McGlacken, both of whom pleaded guilty to preventing a lawful burial, were found guilty of murder and now face life imprisonment for the brutal murder.
The dismembered remains of 34-year-old Ashley Walsh (pictured) were recovered more than a week after he was last seen by his girlfriend
Police and forensic teams search Sandhills Park in Collyhurst, north Manchester, January 17, 2022 in connection with the disappearance of Ashley Walsh, 34
Mr Walsh, from Failsworth, Oldham, had been reported missing after he was last seen by his girlfriend.
Evitt and McGlacken were suspected after they were seen on CCTV with Mr Walsh’s dog Duke as the pair were said to be “inseparable”. The two cousins were arrested and both charged with murder.
Manchester Crown Court heard his remains were only discovered after Evitt collapsed in custody, telling police: “It’s been too long. You will need a van. I have to show you where he is.”
He led officers to Sand Hills Park in Collyhurst, a five-minute walk from McGlacken’s home, on Kintore Walk, a week after the murder on Friday January 7.
A pathologist examined Mr Walsh’s remains after the shocking discovery.
A post-mortem found Mr Walsh “had been dismembered through the neck, central torso, both upper arms near the shoulders, both thighs and his left lower leg”.
Evitt told jurors an argument broke out at McGlacken’s flat after Mr Walsh said he slept with his ex-girlfriend.
Ashley Walsh, 34, from Failsworth, Greater Manchester
He said the pair traded punches and claimed Mr Walsh hit him with a hammer. Evitt said he hit Mr Walsh and then armed himself with the hammer and hit him in the head with it, causing him to collapse.
Evitt, who was “very drunk,” said he passed out. He claimed that Mr Walsh was gone when he woke up.
At trial, McGlacken admitted to “decapitating and dismembering” Mr. Walsh. He also admitted to stabbing him, but claimed he believed Mr Walsh was already dead when he stabbed him.
When asked why he dismembered the body, McGlacken, who referred to Evitt as his nephew, said: “To dispose of it. I had to get rid of it to protect my nephew.”
He explained the gruesome details of how he “dismembered” Mr Walsh’s body using a samurai sword, kitchen knives, a hammer and a power saw.
Evitt, of Brentnor Road, Moston, and McGlacken, of Kintore Walk, Collyhurst, were both unanimously convicted of murder. You will be sentenced tomorrow.
Members of Mr Walsh’s family are remembered as wearing purple sweaters when the sentences were announced.
In a statement, they previously said: “Ashley, you were tragically taken from us and our lives will never be the same.
“He was a loving son, brother and father who was loved by so many and will be greatly missed. Rest in peace Ashley you will always be in our hearts.’
