Del Toro had filled the house with dozens of monster maquettes from his films scale models created by special-effects shops during the early design phase, allowing the imaginary to become palpable.

NEWYORKER: Show The Monster

That new three-story monster-house on the block, could you believe two mil, those show-off window arches and did you get a load of that corny balcony, all of it throwing the neighborhood out of whack, a crazy eyesore, but hey, it was driving property values up, he could live with that.

NEWYORKER: History of a Disturbance

Ms Martin described her former partner as a "monster" and said the only guilt she felt was for letting Barry McCarney into her house.

BBC: Millie Martin trial: Mother sobs during court questioning