Facing life, police inspector who strangled his detective wife and threw body in lake
A DEBT-RIDDEN police inspector faces life in jail after he was convicted yesterday of the “cowardly” murder of his detective constable wife.
Darren McKie, 43, had admitted the manslaughter of mother-of-three Leanne, 39, but had denied murder.
The couple, both officers at Greater Manchester Police, had repeatedly rowed about their £103,000 of nonmortgage debt.
On the day she died, furious Leanne texted her husband calling him a “liar” after finding he had secretly applied for a huge new loan in her name.
Chester Crown Court heard he raced home to Wilmslow, Cheshire, and strangled her before dumping her body in nearby Poynton lake.
Leanne’s body was found in the early hours of the next day last September 29 and McKie was arrested in his dressing gown.
A jury found him guilty of murder by a majority of 11 to one after deliberating for nine hours and five minutes.
McKie, wearing a navy blue suit and tie, closed his eyes during the verdict.
He will be sentenced on Tuesday and faces a mandatory life sentence.
Devastating
Outside court Leanne’s parents Ray and Ellen Dodd said: “Justice has been served today. Our lives will never be the same again. There are no winners in this trial. We have lost our beautiful daughter and our grandchildren have lost their beloved mummy.”
Senior Crown prosecutor Rachael Barber said: “McKie went behind his wife’s back to apply for loans in her name and when she confronted him, he murdered her.”
Greater Manchester Police Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling said: “My heart goes out to Leanne’s three children, who she adored. Ultimately it’s those children whose lives have been turned upside down the most by this devastating incident.”
Experts revealed the debts included £45,000 on credit cards, £40,000 loans and £18,000 owed for renovations.
Friends believed the couple had “a brilliant relationship” and branded them “a perfect, united family”.
But at a party before her murder, Leanne told a friend: “Darren has told me to stop spending money.”
On the morning of her death Leanne texted him “liar” after discovering he applied for a £54,000 loan in her name.
In another text she wrote: “Are we in such a mess? What’s going on?” McKie, who had a 21-year career at catching criminals, was at work but immediately replied: “I’m coming home.”
Leanne, who worked in the sex crimes unit, was due to go into work for a 3pm shift but never arrived.
McKie then went on the school run, coolly laughing and joking with other parents as he picked up the children. At 3.31pm, McKie texted to his wife’s phone “You OK?”, although he knew she was dead. At 2am on September 29, two police officers saw McKie without any shoes and gave him a lift home to his detached £435,000 home.
Then at 3.45am police received a 999 call from the lake and they discovered Leanne’s body in shallow water.
McKie had put Leanne’s body in her red Mini, driven to the lake and hurled her in, leaving her car at the scene.
Detective Inspector Adam Waller said: “He is a coward and refused to admit responsibility for his actions.”