Policeman is charged over wife’s murder

A POLICE officer was last night charged with the murder of his detective wife.

Sergeant Darren McKie, 43, had been arrested shortly after 39-year-old Detective Constable Leanne McKie’s body was discovered in a lake at a popular beauty spot.

Shocked relatives of the couple – who have two daughters aged three and six and a son aged 11 – had described them as a ‘lovely’ family.

Mrs McKie’s body was found on Friday afternoon in Poynton Park, Cheshire. Sgt McKie – who like his wife is a serving officer with Greater Manchester Police – was arrested at their home eight miles away in Wilmslow.

Neighbours said the couple had only moved in a few weeks ago.

On Sunday, Cheshire Police appealed for sightings of Mrs McKie’s red 2012 Mini Countryman from Thursday afternoon into the early hours of Friday between Poynton and Wilmslow.

Yesterday they issued a renewed appeal for a group of four people seen walking by the lake at about 12.15am on Friday to come forward.

Greater Manchester Chief Constable Ian Hopkins spoke of his ‘great sadness’ at Mrs McKie’s death and praised her ‘tireless’ work on behalf of victims of sex offences.

Sgt McKie is understood to be a neighbourhood officer based in Trafford. He has been remanded in custody to appear before magistrates in Crewe today.