Cousins found guilty of murder after dad found 'chopped up' in suitcases in park

Two cousins have been found guilty of murder after a dad was discovered 'chopped up' in suitcases in a park. The dismembered remains of 34-year-old Ashley Walsh were recovered more than a week after he'd last been seen by his girlfriend.

Aaron Evitt and his cousin Gerard McGlacken, now both face life sentences. Members of Mr Walsh's family wore purple jumpers in his memory as the verdicts were delivered.

Mr Walsh had gone for a drink with his friend Evitt and McGlacken. Following a row at McGlacken's flat in Collyhurst, Evitt hit Mr Walsh over the head with a hammer, on Friday, January 7.

READ MORE: Shocking image of knifeman sex offender slashing 17-year-old's throat on bus in random attack

Cocaine-fuelled McGlacken, 45, admitted stabbing Mr Walsh, and then brutally dismembering him before stuffing his remains in bin bags and transferring them to a nearby park in four suitcases.

Mr Walsh was reported missing by his family. Manchester Crown Court heard his remains were only discovered after Evitt broke down in custody and told police: “It’s gone on too long. You're going to need a van. I need to show you where he is."

He led officers to Sand Hills park in Collyhurst, a five minute walk away from McGlacken's flat, the scene of the murder.

A pathologist examined Mr Walsh's remains following the shocking discovery. A post mortem examination found that Mr Walsh had been ‘dismembered through the neck, central torso, both upper arms close to the shoulders, both upper thighs, and his left lower leg'.

Suspicions were raised about Evitt and McGlacken 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.

They both pleaded