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Inspector Darren McKie guilty of wife's murder | Inspector Darren McKie guilty of wife's murder |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A police inspector has been found guilty of murdering his wife and dumping her body in a lake. | A police inspector has been found guilty of murdering his wife and dumping her body in a lake. |
Darren McKie, 43, denied murdering his wife Leanne but admitted manslaughter towards the end of his trial. | Darren McKie, 43, denied murdering his wife Leanne but admitted manslaughter towards the end of his trial. |
Mrs McKie, 39, a detective constable, was found strangled in Poynton Lake in Cheshire on 29 September. | Mrs McKie, 39, a detective constable, was found strangled in Poynton Lake in Cheshire on 29 September. |
Jurors at Chester Crown Court deliberated for almost two days before reaching a majority verdict. McKie will be sentenced on Tuesday. | Jurors at Chester Crown Court deliberated for almost two days before reaching a majority verdict. McKie will be sentenced on Tuesday. |
The couple, who both worked for Greater Manchester Police (GMP), had financial problems and owed more than £100,000, the court heard. | |
'Determined' | 'Determined' |
They had appeared to be a "perfect family" but were really living "well beyond their means", prosecutors said. | They had appeared to be a "perfect family" but were really living "well beyond their means", prosecutors said. |
The father-of-three, who had 20 years of police service, strangled his wife after she discovered he had made a joint application for a £54,000 loan without her consent. | The father-of-three, who had 20 years of police service, strangled his wife after she discovered he had made a joint application for a £54,000 loan without her consent. |
McKie had forged his wife's signature repeatedly, using her warrant number and wage documents for the application, the jury heard. | McKie had forged his wife's signature repeatedly, using her warrant number and wage documents for the application, the jury heard. |
Prosecutor Nigel Power QC told the court: "What produced the argument that led to her death was that he'd been found out in committing serious criminal offences." | Prosecutor Nigel Power QC told the court: "What produced the argument that led to her death was that he'd been found out in committing serious criminal offences." |
The court heard McKie had left work at Stretford police station abruptly at about 11:30 GMT on the day of his wife's death, after receiving a text message from her revealing she had discovered the loan application. | The court heard McKie had left work at Stretford police station abruptly at about 11:30 GMT on the day of his wife's death, after receiving a text message from her revealing she had discovered the loan application. |
Mr Power said McKie then "determinedly strangled his wife to death", involving significant force for at least a minute. | Mr Power said McKie then "determinedly strangled his wife to death", involving significant force for at least a minute. |
In the hours that followed, the inspector showed a surveyor into his home and was said to have laughed with parents on the school run. | In the hours that followed, the inspector showed a surveyor into his home and was said to have laughed with parents on the school run. |
Police believe Mrs McKie's body was either under the stairs or in the boot of their car when the surveyor arrived. | Police believe Mrs McKie's body was either under the stairs or in the boot of their car when the surveyor arrived. |
He was twice spotted walking towards Wilmslow, where the family lived, by patrol officers in the hours before Mrs McKie's body was discovered in shallow water at Poynton Lake. | He was twice spotted walking towards Wilmslow, where the family lived, by patrol officers in the hours before Mrs McKie's body was discovered in shallow water at Poynton Lake. |
During the second sighting, at 02:15 GMT, the officers noticed he was not wearing shoes. | During the second sighting, at 02:15 GMT, the officers noticed he was not wearing shoes. |
His trainers were later found in a wheelie bin with traces of his wife's blood on them, as well as soil from the lake area. | His trainers were later found in a wheelie bin with traces of his wife's blood on them, as well as soil from the lake area. |
In his closing speech, Mr Power said the inspector went on to play a "game of cat and mouse" with police. | In his closing speech, Mr Power said the inspector went on to play a "game of cat and mouse" with police. |
Mckie tried to cover his tracks by not carrying his mobile phone in an attempt to prevent police tracing his movements. | Mckie tried to cover his tracks by not carrying his mobile phone in an attempt to prevent police tracing his movements. |
He also sent text messages to his wife's phone in the hours after her death, and showed "no emotion" in police custody. | He also sent text messages to his wife's phone in the hours after her death, and showed "no emotion" in police custody. |
The jury rejected McKie's defence barrister's suggestion that the killing had not been intentional and was a "terrible, terrible mistake". | The jury rejected McKie's defence barrister's suggestion that the killing had not been intentional and was a "terrible, terrible mistake". |
Det Supt Aaron Duggan, who led the investigation, said: "This is a very tragic case, we have got three children here who have been left without a mother - and sadly also a father - because of his actions. | Det Supt Aaron Duggan, who led the investigation, said: "This is a very tragic case, we have got three children here who have been left without a mother - and sadly also a father - because of his actions. |
"I think he has completely distanced himself from the reality of what he has done. I think it's very very sad that he's waited until all the evidence has been presented before he has admitted his guilt. | "I think he has completely distanced himself from the reality of what he has done. I think it's very very sad that he's waited until all the evidence has been presented before he has admitted his guilt. |
"We can't lose sight of the fact that it has involved two police officers but we haven't treated the case any differently because of that." | "We can't lose sight of the fact that it has involved two police officers but we haven't treated the case any differently because of that." |
Det Insp Adam Waller said McKie had "used the knowledge gained as a police officer to try and systematically cover his tracks" with the aim of creating the impression that his wife had been murdered by somebody else. | |
"He is a coward and refused to admit responsibility for his actions throughout," he said. | "He is a coward and refused to admit responsibility for his actions throughout," he said. |
In a statement, Mrs McKie's family said "justice had been served" but there were "no winners in this trial". | In a statement, Mrs McKie's family said "justice had been served" but there were "no winners in this trial". |
"Our lives will never be the same again. We have lost our beautiful daughter and our grandchildren have lost their beloved mummy," they added. | "Our lives will never be the same again. We have lost our beautiful daughter and our grandchildren have lost their beloved mummy," they added. |
GMP Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling said the force had "lost a colleague and much-loved friend". | |
He added: "Leanne was a hard-working officer who showed the utmost professionalism. She worked as a detective in the serious sexual offences unit and supported victims when they were at their most vulnerable." | He added: "Leanne was a hard-working officer who showed the utmost professionalism. She worked as a detective in the serious sexual offences unit and supported victims when they were at their most vulnerable." |