Jump to content

Gemma McCluskie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by ArmbrustBot (talk | contribs) at 12:25, 10 September 2016 (→External links: re-categorisation per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2016 July 15 using AWB). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Gemma McCluskie
Born(1983-02-05)5 February 1983
Died1 March 2012(2012-03-01) (aged 29)[1]
Cause of deathBeating[2]
Body discovered6 March 2012
Regent's Canal, Hackney, London
NationalityBritish
OccupationActress
Years active1997–2001
Notable workEastEnders
Height4 ft 11 in (150 cm)[3]
RelativesTony McCluskie, Anthony McCluskie, Danny McCluskie

Gemma Rose Veronica McCluskie (5 February 1983 – 1 March 2012) was a British television actress. She was a regular cast member in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, in which she played Kerry Skinner. In March 2012, McCluskie disappeared from her home in East London; a few days later, her body was discovered in the Regent's Canal. Her brother, Tony McCluskie, was subsequently found guilty of her murder.[5]

Career

McCluskie's best-known role was Kerry Skinner in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, which she played for a year (2000–2001). In the show, McCluskie's character was a close friend of Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) and the great-niece of Ethel Skinner (Gretchen Franklin).[6] She also had a part in the series No Sweat, playing a bully named Janis.[7]

Disappearance and death

McCluskie went missing from her East London flat, where she lived with her brother Tony,[8] on 1 March 2012. She was seen at home with her brother that afternoon, and a subsequent investigation found that she had entered a kebab shop around 8 pm.[9]

Former EastEnders actresses Martine McCutcheon, Brooke Kinsella, and Natalie Cassidy tweeted about her disappearance in hopes of getting information about her whereabouts;[10] the Twitter hashtag "#FindGemma" was used. A search party of 100 people was organised by McCluskie's cousins on 5 March, which spread out from the east and south of London, attempting to discover information related to McCluskie's disappearance.[9]

The headless torso of a woman was recovered from Regent's Canal in Hackney on 6 March.[6] On 9 March, the police announced that the body had been formally identified as McCluskie.[11] On 10 March, a 35-year-old male was formally charged with her murder.[12] He appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday, 12 March[13][14] and a preliminary hearing was set for 26 March at the Old Bailey.[4] He did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody; the suspect would later be identified as her brother, Tony McCluskie.[15]

On 10 September, police found a head in the same stretch of canal.[16] The Metropolitan Police confirmed the head was McCluskie's two days later.[17] On 28 September, Tony McCluskie accepted responsibility for the death of the actress. McCluskie's funeral was then held on 30 November at St. Monica's Church, Hoxton Square, East London.[18]

Trial and sentence of brother

The trial began on 14 January 2013 at the Old Bailey. During the trial, it was reported that Tony McCluskie was a heavy cannabis user and that the siblings frequently argued. On 1 March 2012, Tony was alleged to have argued with Gemma about an overflowing bath. Gemma told him to leave, and he then grabbed her by the wrists and punched her to the floor, but claimed he had no further recollection of his actions. Her death was caused by several blows to the head with a blunt instrument. Tony then spent several hours dismembering her body. CCTV footage showed Tony carrying a suitcase the next day; the suitcase contained her remains, which Tony disposed of in Regent's Canal. Tony McCluskie initially admitted manslaughter, but denied murder, citing a "loss of control". He was found guilty of her murder on 30 January 2013 and jailed for life with a minimum sentence of 20 years.[2][19]

Filmography

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1997 No Sweat Janis 18 episodes
2000–01 EastEnders Kerry Skinner 34 episodes

References

  1. ^ "Gemma McCluskie: Friend of EastEnders actress says she wanted brother Tony to move out". East London Advertiser. UK. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b "EastEnders' Gemma McCluskie death: Brother faces murder trial". BBC News. BBC. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
  3. ^ Rickman, Dina (8 March 2012). "Gemma McCluskie Missing: Police Divers Search Canal For Body Parts". The Huffington Post UK. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  4. ^ a b Hall, John (12 March 2012). "Brother appears in court over Gemma McCluskie murder". The Independent. Independent Print Ltd. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  5. ^ Rowland, Vicky (5 March 2012). "Brothers of missing EastEnders actress from Bethnal Green are seeking help from the East End community". East London Advertiser. Archant. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Arrest after torso feared to be EastEnders actress found". BBC News. BBC. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  7. ^ "Brother of missing former EastEnders actress is arrested after police divers pull headless body from canal". Daily Mail. UK. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  8. ^ Gemma McCluskie 'killed after sink row'
  9. ^ a b Nelson, Sara C (7 March 2012). "Gemma McCluskie Missing: Body Pulled From Regents Canal In Hunt For Former EastEnders Star". The Huffington Post UK. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  10. ^ "Mystery of former EastEnders actress who disappeared five days ago". Daily Mail. UK. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
  11. ^ "Canal body is ex-Eastenders actress MuCluskie". BBC News. BBC. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  12. ^ "EastEnders Actress Murder: Brother Charged". Sky News. British Sky Broadcasting. 11 March 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  13. ^ Brother of Gemma McCluskie Appears in Court Charged With Her Murder Metro, 12 March 2012
  14. ^ Brother of Ex-EastEnders McCluskie charged with her murder BBC News, 10 March 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  15. ^ Cooper, Rob (18 June 2012). "Gemma McCluskie murder: Former EastEnders actress' brother Tony will stand trial". Mail Online. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  16. ^ Hall, John (10 September 2012). "Severed head recovered from Regent's Canal where decapitated remains of former EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie were found". The Independent. Independent Print Ltd. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  17. ^ Davis, Margaret (12 September 2012). "Police confirm severed head found in Hackney canal belongs to ex-Eastenders actress Gemma McCluskie". The Independent. Independent Print Ltd. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  18. ^ "Former Eastenders Actress's Funeral is held". Daily Mail. Daily Mail. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  19. ^ "Brother of EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie found guilty of murdering her and dismembering her body". Daily Mail. Daily Mail and General Trust. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gemma_McCluskie&oldid=738677622"