TWO men have been jailed for life after being found guilty of the murder of their friend, who was later dismembered before his remains were packed into suitcases and dumped.
Gerard McGlacken, 45, and Aaron Evitt 34, were found guilty on July 13, 2022 of the murder of Ashley Walsh, 34, from Failsworth in Oldham.
They were sentenced on Friday at Manchester Crown Court to life with a minimum of 28 years.
"It was a heinous act of violence and not only did Aaron Evitt and Gerard McGlacken take Ashley's life, but they also attempted to conceal what they had done — causing extreme distress and upset to Ashley's family and friends," said Detective Inspector Daniel Lee of GMP's Major Incident Team.
Argument
The court heard how Mr Walsh was captured on CCTV on January 7, 2022 at around 7.30pm, walking his dog with McGlacken and Evitt from Kintore Walk towards Rochdale Road.
It was the last time he was seen alive.
Later that night, Mr Walsh and Evitt became involved in an argument.
McGlacken and Evitt (Image: GMP)Evitt later admitted to hitting Mr Walsh over the head with a hammer following the argument, although a post mortem examination found that he had died from multiple injuries, including severe trauma to his skull and multiple stab wounds to his chest.
Evitt discovered McGlacken had dismembered Mr Walsh's body and his remains were later placed into four suitcases.
Mr Walsh was reported missing by his family, who grew concerned when they did not hear from him for some days.
Remains
On January 17, 2022, officers recovered human remains in a wooded area of Sand Hills Park in Collyhurst, which were later formally identified as those of Mr Walsh.
Following a police investigation, both Evitt and McGlacken were remanded in custody on January 18, 2022.
Black bin bags were found at McGlacken's address at 7 Kintore Walk and a forensic examination confirmed they contained blood matching the DNA profile of Mr Walsh.
Mr Walsh was described as an easy-going person (Image: GMP)Following a police search around the Kintore Walk area, officers also recovered items from a residential bin which included a jacket that Evitt is seen wearing in CCTV footage outside the Bobby Convenience Store on Rochdale Road.
He was also seen wearing it on CCTV from Boggart Hole Clough County Park, where McGlacken and Evitt were seen abandoning Mr Walsh's dog.
"These convictions are the result of a thorough investigation by our Major Incident Team who were committed to securing justice for Ashley's family and I'm pleased that those responsible were convicted," added DI Lee.
'Touched everyone's hearts'
In a statement, Mr Walsh's family said that had been left 'devastated' at the manner in which he died.
"Ashley, our blond-haired curly-haired smiling-faced little boy," they said in a statement.
"Growing up in a large family, he touched the hearts of everyone he met.
"By nature, he was helpful, sentimental, mischievous and the most easy-going person.
"A talented motocross rider, his dad [was] always his biggest supporter.
"We have been left devastated that Ashley was to lose his life in such horrific circumstances, he was a lover not a fighter.
"Ashley — you mean the world to us, if love alone could have saved you, you would have lived forever."
McGlacken and Evitt had both pleaded guilty to Preventing a Lawful Burial at an earlier hearing.
