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Police inspector Darren McKie jailed for wife's murder Police inspector Darren McKie jailed for wife's murder
(35 minutes later)
A former police inspector who murdered his wife in their home and dumped her body in a lake has been jailed.A former police inspector who murdered his wife in their home and dumped her body in a lake has been jailed.
Leanne McKie, 39, a detective constable, was found strangled in Poynton Lake in Cheshire on 29 September.Leanne McKie, 39, a detective constable, was found strangled in Poynton Lake in Cheshire on 29 September.
Darren McKie, 43, denied murder but admitted her manslaughter towards the end of his trial. He was found guilty by jury at Chester Crown Court.Darren McKie, 43, denied murder but admitted her manslaughter towards the end of his trial. He was found guilty by jury at Chester Crown Court.
McKie was ordered to serve a minimum of 19 years.McKie was ordered to serve a minimum of 19 years.
On sentencing McKie to life imprisonment, Mr Justice Robin Spencer told he "abused his knowledge of criminal investigations... and the public's trust in a senior police officer" after the "cruel killing". On sentencing McKie to life imprisonment, Mr Justice Robin Spencer told him he "abused his knowledge of criminal investigations... and the public's trust in a senior police officer" after the "cruel killing".
He said he he disposed of his wife's body in a "callous and despicable way". During his trial prosecutor Nigel Power QC said McKie "determinedly strangled his wife to death", involving significant force for at least a minute.
The judge said outwardly the couple appeared to have a "perfect marriage". McKie had risen to the rank of inspector at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) while his wife was a valued and respected detective constable with the force, and they both had "support of loving parents". Mr Justice Spencer said McKie had disposed of his wife's body in a "callous and despicable way".
However, in reality they were in the "spectre of serious and constant debt" and "they were both living beyond their means". Outwardly the couple, who had three children, appeared to have a "perfect marriage", said the judge.
He said McKie had risen to the rank of inspector at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) while his wife was a valued and respected detective constable with the force, and they both had "support of loving parents".
However, in reality they were in the "spectre of serious and constant debt" and "both living beyond their means".
During his trial the court heard the couple owed more than £100,000.During his trial the court heard the couple owed more than £100,000.
McKie, who had 20 years' police service, strangled his wife after she discovered he had made a joint application for a £54,000 loan without her consent. The judge said in the past their parents had given them £90,000 towards home improvements and paid off credit card debts of £40,000.
The court heard McKie left work at Stretford police station abruptly at about 11:30 BST on the day of his wife's death, after receiving a text message from her revealing she had discovered he had made a loan application for £54,000 without her consent.
'Kind, loving, generous'
The trial heard McKie had forged his wife's signature repeatedly, using her warrant number and wage documents for the application.The trial heard McKie had forged his wife's signature repeatedly, using her warrant number and wage documents for the application.
Mrs McKie's mother Ellen Dodd said from the moment on 29 September she was told her daughter had been found dead "our lives came to a stop". Mr Power told the court during his murder trial: "What produced the argument that led to her death was that he'd been found out in committing serious criminal offences."
Mrs McKie's mother Ellen Dodd said from the moment on 29 September she was told her daughter had been found dead, "our lives came to a stop".
"Leanne was our light, and the light has gone out," she said."Leanne was our light, and the light has gone out," she said.
"It is only because of the children that we keep going." "It is only because of the children that we keep going. She was kind, loving and generous... [and] never said a bad word about anyone."
"She was kind, loving and generous... [and] never said a bad word about anyone." The judge said McKie would remain on licence for the rest of his life.