Minute by minute. . . how the murder trial has unfolded

OUR minute by minute account of how the murder trial has unfolded so far: Day Seven: 3.07pm – The jurors are told about the clothing, including Insp McKie’s police uniform, a police officer found spinning in the washing machine of the family home in Wilmslow when he went to the property during the early hours of September 29 following the discovery of the body at Poynton Lake.

Under crossexamination Det Con Cole confirmed Insp McKie was due to be on duty the following morning.

Det Con Cole told the court that she didn’t know whether the uniform found in the wash was Insp McKie’s only uniform although later she recalled there had been ‘additional uniform’.

3.22pm – Prosecutor Nigel Power QC told the jurors, that DC Cole was the ‘unfortunate’ officer who had similar weight and dimensions to Leanne McKie and was chosen to climb into the boot of a Mini Countryman similar to the one said to have been used to dump the body at Poynton Lake.

The jury has previously heard that Leanne McKie was just over 5ft 2in tall and weighed 53 kilos or eight stone.

DC Cole told the court she was an inch taller and weighed 56 kilos. The jurors were shown a picture of DC Cole in the boot of the car. Day Eight: 11.47am – The court hears the defendant was interviewed on five occasions, the first time on September 29 and then on September 30.

He is said to have exercised his right to silence for the majority of the interviews, instead handing three prepared statements.

At the start of the interview, the interviewer Detective Constable Kevin Lee asked the suspect: “What can you tell me about the death of your wife?”

Insp McKie replied: “Nothing, nothing. Until officers arrived at the house this morning, I didn’t know she was dead.” Day Nine: 11am – The prosecutor Nigel Power QC tells the jury they are about to see a video compilation of CCTV footage including maps. The video is played to the jurors.

3pm – In a surprise development, the defendant Darren McKie admitted manslaughter although he continues to deny murdering his wife. He changed his manslaughter plea as the trial prosecution finished its case. Insp McKie was asked to stand in the dock and the charge of manslaughter was read out to him again.

Asked how he pleaded, he answered: “Guilty.”

3.09pm – The judge, Mr Justice Spencer, tells the jurors that the defendant had admitted unlawfully killing his wife by his change of plea.

However, he stressed Insp McKie continued to deny murder and the issue for them to decided now was whether he intended to kill or her or cause her serious harm.

3.42pm – Trevor Burke QC, defending, tells the jury he would be calling no evidence and confirmed his client would not be giving evidence.

Day Ten: Nigel Power QC, prosecuting, gave his closing speech. Mr Power suggested the defendant had put his hands over his wife’s mouth to prevent the neighbours from hearing anything.

“Just how loud was she screaming for that to be necessary?” asked Mr Power.

He continued: “That’s a vital aspect of the evidence: your assessment of whether the defendant was acting in a determined pursuit of causing at least bodily harm or whether your intention was only to cause minor harm that went tragically wrong.”