Man admits preventing lawful burial of fatal arson attack suspect found in bin
The body of Paul Smith, 40, was found in the bin in Everton, Liverpool
Last updated 7th Aug 2026
A man has admitted preventing a lawful burial after the body of a suspect in a fatal arson attack was found in a wheelie bin.
The body of Paul Smith, 40, known as Smigger, was found in the bin in Everton, Liverpool, on July 22, 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 couple were rescued from the blaze but died in hospital from burns and smoke inhalation.
Appearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, Steven Wales, 61, pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful and decent burial of Mr Smith’s body.
The case was adjourned until August 18 to allow Mr Smith’s family to make victim personal statements.
Judge Brian Cummings KC granted Wales unconditional bail but told him: “All options remain open, that includes the possibility of an immediate prison sentence, so you must come on the next occasion ready for all options.”
Before leaving the court, Wales said: “Have a good day, your honour.”
An inquest last month heard Mr Smith’s body was discovered in a bin where it had been moved after he died in a bath, having taken a cocktail of drugs.
The hearing at the Gerard Majella Courthouse in Liverpool was told Wales called police on July 22 and told them a man had either drowned or overdosed in the bath at a property at Coniston Street, Everton, two days earlier.
Mr Smith’s body was found in a wheelie bin at the rear of derelict properties nearby.
In a report, Home Office pathologist Dr Matthew Lyall said toxicology results showed 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.
Dr Lyall said drowning could not be proved or excluded.
He added: “Neither can it be entirely excluded that the deceased was held under water 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.”
Earlier this year 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 July 15.
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.