Tom Powell
A CORKSCREW and eight knives were found covered in blood after the brutal slaying of a family of four in Gibraltar, an inquest has heard.
Evidence suggests John Shannon, from Liverpool, stabbed his wife and two children to death before cutting his own throat at a rented home in Boschetti’s Steps, in March.
Anarda de la Caridad Perez Friman, 31, and her daughters Amanda Kristofferson, 4, and six-week-old Eve Shannon Perez all died from stab wounds to the heart.
Gibraltar court heard how Shannon, 37, father to just Eve, appears to have died after his throat was cut in the shower room, stood in front of a mirror, which is ‘typical of self-inflicted wounding’.
High levels of testosterone in Shannon’s urine indicated he was under the influence of steroids, and he had also been smoking cannabis and drinking beer.
Blood smears in the corridor between the bedroom where Anarda was found and the shower suggest Shannon was the killer, contrary to reports at the time of the deaths.
Leading forensic scientist Luane Lunt described the unsettling details of the deaths to the coroner, Charles Pitto and later showed the corkscrew to a packed court.
Spanish mother Anarda was found by police officers in the master bedroom with a pillow over her face, with 12 stab marks to the chest.
Both children – described as ‘normally-developed and well-looked after little girls’ – were found in the living room. Baby Eve died after a ‘single episode’ of violence, while Amanda had ‘defensive wounds’ on her hands and 13 stab wounds, one supposedly inflicted by a corkscrew, to her body.
Shannon, from Liverpool, appears to have cut his own throat in the shower room before crawling into the living room. Strangely he also had six stab wounds to his back.
He was found by officers down the side of the bed, with a makeshift knife sheath taped to his leg.
Five bottles of Heineken beer were found around the house with Shannon’s DNA on them, which suggests he was inebriated.
The family of four were discovered dead in a horrific scene on March 30 by a friend in whose flat they were staying.
They were reportedly planning on returning to the UK.
The inquest continues.
