Murder Trial Begins For Pensioner Whose Body Was Found In Freezer

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Murder Trial Begins For Pensioner Whose Body Was Found In Freezer 

Victim: Peter McMahon

 

Three people have gone on trial accused of murdering a pensioner whose decomposed body was found in a freezer.

 

Sharon Swinhoe, 44, is accused of murdering her ex-partner, Peter McMahon, with Joseph Collins, 54, and Ronald Douglas, 77.

The trio are alleged to have murdered Mr McMahon, 66, during a "serious sustained assault" in which the retired civil servant's eyes were gouged.

They are then accused of moving the body in a suitcase and storing it in a chest freezer, where it badly decomposed before the grim discovery was made by police.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Mr McMahon was "besotted" with Swinhoe, who was more than 20 years his junior, after meeting in the Metropolitan Bar in Elswick, Newcastle.

Nicholas Lumley, prosecuting, said: "More likely than not, she saw him as a good catch, a 'sugar daddy' after he would often buy things for her.”

The court heard that Mr McMahon had a "decent pension" and was financially comfortable, but Swinhoe milked his bank account and credit card, continuing to make withdrawals for hundreds of pounds after he was dead.

"There were other men in her life and she cunningly played off one against the other.

"Mr Collins was one of those other men in her life, Mr Douglas was another.

The couple had a volatile relationship, but Mr McMahon "took the rough with the smooth" and on October 18 last year, he was "giddy" with excitement to receive a phone call from Swinhoe, who gave the impression of wanting to reconcile their relationship, the court heard.

"Mr McMahon was being set up," said Mr Lumley.

"He was blissfully unaware of that.”

On November 18, Mr McMahon's eldest son called him from his home in New Zealand, to tell him that his partner had given birth, and he was now a grandfather.

Swinhoe answered the call and told Mr McMahon's son that his father was sleeping, despite it only being early evening.

On November 20, at around 7.30pm, Swinhoe, Collins and Douglas were caught on CCTV arriving at Collins' flat at The Sycamores in Newcastle, with what the prosecution allege was a suitcase containing Mr McMahon's body.

Mr Lumley said: "Mr Douglas is dragging behind him what is very obviously a heavy case.

"Mr Collins holds the door open for them. There is no question that these three
are not acting together.

"Miss Swinhoe can be seen telling Mr Douglas what to do.

"Mr Douglas drags the suitcase onto the landing.

"The next day, Mr Collins went to a second hand shop on Elswick Road and picked out a freezer for £60."

CCTV showed the freezer was delivered to Collins' flat, although the two men wouldn't let the delivery staff into the flat, insisting the freezer was left on the landing.

Cleaners and management in Collins' building began to complain of a stench in the days that followed, but he blamed it on a blocked toilet.

On December 1 at 1.30pm a 999 call was made by Swinhoe to police, but the call was quickly terminated.

When police attended the scene, Swinhoe, of Crawford Terrace, Walker, Newcastle, said she was being harassed by Collins.

She went on to say that she hadn't seen McMahon for six weeks and thought he
was dead and in a freezer in Collins' flat; police went to his flat and made the discovery.

All three were subsequently arrested but deny the murder.

Mr McMahon's injuries included a fractured nose, facial bruising, bruising to the scrotum and the "extremely unpleasant" gouging injuries to the eyes.

The trial continues.