Man admits hiding fatal arson attack suspect body in bin in Liverpool

A man has admitted preventing the lawful burial of a suspect in a fatal arson attack after a man's body was found in a wheelie bin in Liverpool.

The remains of Paul Smith, 40, were discovered in the bin in Everton on 22 July last year, seven days after he is believed to have started a fire at the home of Sheila Jackson, 83, and her partner Eric Greener, 77, in St Helens, Merseyside.

The pensioners were rescued from the blaze but died later in hospital from burns and smoke inhalation.

Steven Wales, 61, pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful and decent burial of Mr Smith's body at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday.

He was granted unconditional bail by Judge Brian Cummings KC, who warned him "all options" were open, including "the possibility of an immediate prison sentence".

Before leaving the court, Wales, of Pope Street, Bootle, said: "Have a good day, your honour."

An inquest last month heard Mr Smith had died in a bath having taken a cocktail of drugs, before his body was moved to the bin where it was found.

Wales called police on 22 July, 2025, telling them a man had either drowned or overdosed in the bath at a property at Coniston Street, Everton, two days earlier, a hearing at the Gerard Majella Courthouse in Liverpool was told.

Mr Smith's body was found in a wheelie bin at the rear of derelict properties nearby.

Mr Smith had taken heroin close to the time of his death, as well as a "relatively large amount of cocaine" and a number of sedatives, according to Home Office pathologist Dr Matthew Lyall, quoting from toxicology test results.

Drowning could not be proved or excluded, Dr Lyall said, adding that it also couldn't be excluded "that the deceased was held underwater by a third party, but pathological findings cannot prove that occurred".

Recording the death as drug-related, the coroner said: "He died from taking illicit and sedative drugs which caused respiratory failure."

In February, Kevin Weetman, 34, Kylie Maynard, 37, and Lee Owens, 46, were jailed for the manslaughter of Mr Greener and Ms Jackson.

A trial at Liverpool Crown Court heard Mr Smith had travelled with Owens to the home in South John Street just after 12.30am on 15 July.

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Weetman was jailed for life with a minimum of 25 years for planning the attack after Mrs Jackson's son George, 48, refused to sell drugs for him.

Maynard, said to be the "trusted lieutenant" in Weetman's drugs line, was jailed for 23 years and Owens was sentenced to 13 years and six months.

(c) Sky News 2026: Man admits hiding fatal arson attack suspect body in bin in Liverpool