Gemma Rose Veronica McCluskie was a British television actress. Her most notable role was in the BBCsoap operaEastEnders, in which she played Kerry Skinner. In March 2012, McCluskie disappeared from her home in East London; a few days later, her dismembered body was discovered in the Regent's Canal. Her brother, Tony McCluskie, was found guilty of her murder.
Career
McCluskie's best-known role was Kerry Skinner in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, her character appeared between October 2000 and February 2001. In the show, McCluskie's character was a close friend of Zoe Slater and the great-niece of the recently killed offEthel Skinner, and also the girlfriend of long-serving character Robbie Jackson. She also appeared in the TV seriesNo Sweat.
Disappearance and death
McCluskie went missing from her East London flat, where she lived with her brother Tony, 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. 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. The headless torso of a woman was recovered from Regent's Canal in Hackney on 6 March. On 9 March, the police announced that the body had been formally identified as McCluskie. On 10 March, a 35-year-old male was charged with her murder. He appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday, 12 March and a preliminary hearing was set for 26 March at the Old Bailey. On 10 September, police found a head in the same stretch of canal. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the head was McCluskie's two days later. Gemma McCluskie's funeral was held on 30 November at St Monica's Roman Catholic Church, Hoxton Square, East London.
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, he allegedly argued with his sister about an overflowing bath. She 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. He 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. 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.
