Police inspector Darren McKie is due to be sentenced today at Chester Crown Court for murdering his wife Leanne McKie.

A jury found the father-of-three guilty following a three-week trial.

Mrs McKie, who worked ​as a detective constable ​in the serious sexual offences unit at Greater Manchester Police, was found dead in a lake in Poynton Park, Cheshire, in the early hours of September 29.

Her husband, who also worked for ​GMP as an inspector​, was arrested shortly afterwards and charged with her murder at their home in ​Burford Close, Wilmslow, Cheshire.

John Scheerhout will be reporting live from Chester Crown Court.

leanne mckie montage.jpg

'Leanne was our light and the light has gone out. Leanne was our life and we have been left with broken hearts'

Leanne’s mum Ellen Dodd’s victim personal statement which she penned in February.

She said ‘our lives came to a stop’ when she and her husband Ray were told of their daughter’s death.

“I found it unbelievable. Even now, it’s hard to explain but we still haven’t registered the fact that Leanne is no longer with us.

Leanne was our light and the light has gone out. Leanne was our life and we have been left with broken hearts. She was our only child and some days we have felt there is no point carrying on with our lives.

Ray and I used to speak with Leanne every day. Now we are so lonely because we cannot speak with Leanne. We used to speak with Leanne about all kinds of things and now that she has gone we feel there is no-one else we can speak to.”

You can read the full statement here.

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McKie went to ‘despicable and cynical lengths’ to cover his tracks

The judge said the ‘deliberate, callous and determined concealment of the body’ was an aggravating factor as was the ‘mental and physical suffering’ his wife would have felt as she was being strangled.

“She must have been aware that she was being strangled to death in the family home by the father of their children. It was an awful way to die,” he said.

The defendant also went to ‘despicable and cynical lengths’ to cover his tracks for instance by sending his wife five text messages after her death to give the appearance of a loving relationship, said Mr Justice Spencer.

He dismissed claims there had been a ‘degree of provocation’, saying: “It was your choice not to tell her the truth. It was your choice to conceal the truth from her by fraud. It is hardly surprising that her reaction on discovering the truth must have been a mixture of anger, disappointment, anxiety and hurt.

“She trusted you and you breached that trust.”

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McKie lied ‘determinedly and shamelessly for hour after hour’

The judge told the defendant ‘you probably lost your nerve’ when trying to find a suitable spot to dump the body, in the end dragging it 140 metres through the mud into Poynton Lake.

Later he ‘played the innocent husband anxious for his wife’s safety’ and lied ‘determinedly and shamelessly for hour after hour’ when he was interviewed by the police, said Mr Justice Spencer.

The judge described the defendant’s admission mid-way through the trial that he was guilty of manslaughter - although he continued to deny murder - as a ‘damage limitation exercise’ in the face of ‘overwhelming’ evidence.

He said he had no doubt the ‘heated confrontation which must have inevitably taken place’ between the McKies had brought up ‘repercussions’ for his career, as he had used forgery and subterfuge to apply for the £54,000 loan.

“In strangling her so long and so hard, as you must have done, I am sure you must have realised her life was ebbing away and for that reason I am sure you intended to kill her, not just cause her really serious harm.”

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'She was small in stature. She would have been no match for you'

Describing the murder, the judge continued:

“She was small in stature. She would have been no match for you. There must have been a confrontation. On the evidence of the pathologist, I am quite sure that in strangling her you applied significant pressure to her neck for at least a minute, fracturing two bones in the structures of the throat as well as causing extensive bruising.”

Leanne McKie’s mother Ellen appeared distressed in the public gallery as the judge added: “She would have been aware she was being strangled to death. You put your hand over her mouth to stop her screaming. The damage to the inside of the mouth confirms that. It was a brutal killing.”

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Judge: 'It was a cruel killing'

The judge Mr Justice Spencer tells McKie:

“I have to sentence you for the murder of your wife Leanne McKie, the mother of your three children. You strangled her to death in the family home. It was a cruel killing. Then, abusing your knowledge of criminal investigations, and abusing the public’s trust in you as a senior police officer, you set about disposing of your wife’s body in a callous and despicable way.

It was only through an exceptionally thorough and painstaking investigation by the Cheshire Constabulary that an overwhelming case was proved against you.

For many months up to the end of the prosecution case at your trial you brazenly continued to deny that you were the killer.

Just before you were due to give evidence you changed your plea to guilty on count two, manslaughter, and for the first time admitted that it was you who had killed your wife, but without intent for murder.

The jury were sure, in convicting you of murder, that you strangled her intending either to kill her or cause her really serious harm.”

McKie stares straight ahead and shows no reaction as the sentence is delivered.

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BREAKING: Darren McKie jailed for life

Darren McKie is jailed for life and told he must serve 19 years before he can apply for parole.

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Judge says he wants time to reflect

Mr Burke tells the court the ‘principle mitigation’ was that his client had not intended to kill his wife.

He said: “The principle mitigation are that the facts of the case are entirely consistent with the intention to cause really serious harm rather than to kill.”

The judge says he wants time to reflect on the case before passing sentence.

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Defence: 'Complete lack of premeditation in the normal sense'

Trevor Burke QC, defending, tells the court: “Nothing I can say in mitigation can minimise the suffering of the family and children but we are obliged to go through this painful process to work out what the minimum term is.”

He tells the judge there was a ‘complete lack of premeditation in the normal sense of the word’.

He adds that there was ‘severe stress in the background’ of the case, referring to the numerous loan applications the defendant had made.

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'Nothing in the messages to suggest Mr McKie was stressed'

The judge asks the prosecution what they would say about the suggestion that the defendant was ‘provoked by prolonged stress’.

Mr Power said: “There’s no evidence of of course. The didn’t give evidence. There’s no evidence at all from which he could have left loss of control to the jury.

“There’s nothing in the messages that passed between the couple to suggest Mr McKie was stressed.”

The prosecutor then points to evidence from the defendant’s boss, who said he had noted McKie was stressed in the weeks before the death.

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'The fear of being found out'

Procesutor Nigel Power QC points the judge to the fact Leanne McKie had found out how her husband had acted fraudulently in obtaining a £54,000 loan.

“The fear of being found out must in part have motivated the killing,” he said.

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Darren McKie sits impassively in the dock

Darren McKie sits impassively in the dock as the victim personal statement is read out to complete silence in the public gallery.

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Leanne's children 'loved her so much and miss her'

Mrs Dodd said: “Leanne was a beautiful daughter, kind, loving, generous. She had a lovely smile and never said a bad word about anyone.”The death ‘has left a huge void in our lives’, she said.

Referring to Leanne’s children, she continued: “They loved her so much and miss her. Nothing will bring our beautiful daughter back to us and our lives will never be the same again.”

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'If it wasn't for the children we may as well be dead'

Mrs Dodd said her husband had commented if it wasn’t for the children ‘we may as well be dead’, and she added: “As parents it’s the worst nightmare you can have.”

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'It's only because of our grandchildren that we keep going'

Referring to their grandchildren, Mrs Dodd said: “It’s only because of them we keep going. Every day is a challenge. Every day (husband) Ray and I go to bed thinking of Leanne and every morning we get up thinking about Leanne.”

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'Leanne was our light and our light has gone out'

Mrs Dodd said the family still struggled to come to terms with the death and that she was ‘no longer with us’.

“Leanne was our light and our light has gone out,” she said.

She added that at some stages she felt there was ‘no point carrying on with our lives’.

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Leanne's mother: 'From that moment our lives came to a stop'

A moving victim personal statement is read out to the court on behalf of Ellen Dodd, Leanne’s mother.

She says that since her daughter’s death devastated the family.

Describing the moment they were told by the police of her death, she said: “From that moment our lives came to a stop.”

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McKie is brought up into the dock

Nine of the jurors are here to see sentencing. McKie is brought up by the dock officer into the dock.

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The public gallery if full - and both sets of parents are watchin

The public gallery is full and the sentencing hearing of Darren McKie is about to start here in court two at Chester Crown Court.

The barristers are gathering and McKie’s parents are watching on from the public gallery, as are Leanne McKie’s parents.

McKie will be handed a life sentence - but the judge must decide the minimum term he must serve before he can apply for parole.

We’re awaiting the judge and will be starting shortly.

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Sentencing today

“As her life ebbed away in front of his eyes, McKie destroyed what friends and neighbours had thought was the ‘perfect family’.”

This is the piece we published when Darren McKie was found guilty of murdering his wife: ‘How a police officer became a cold-blooded killer’

Darren McKie guilty of wife Leanne’s murder - how a police officer became a cold-blooded killer

McKie is due to be sentenced today, and our reporter John Scheerhout - who has covered every day of the trial - will be sending us live updates.

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GMP tribute to Leanne McKie

Greater Manchester Police’s Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling has paid tribute to Leanne McKie.

He said:

My heart goes out to Leanne’s family, particularly her three children, who she adored. This is such a tragedy, and ultimately it is those children whose lives have been turned upside down the most by this devastating incident.

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. She worked tirelessly to provide victims with support and get them the justice they deserved.

While this has been a Cheshire Police investigation, our officers have lost a colleague and a much-loved friend, Leanne was part of the Greater Manchester Police family and we will continue to always be there for her family and friends should they need us.

We are supporting Leanne’s team mates in their grief and will help them in any way that we can.

We are also supporting those officers who worked with Darren McKie, who remain extremely shocked by what happened.

My thoughts will remain with all of those affected.

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GMP pay tribute: 'Our officers have lost a colleague and a much-loved friend'

Greater Manchester Police’s Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling said:

“My heart goes out to Leanne’s family, particularly her three children, who she adored. This is such a tragedy, and ultimately it is those children whose lives have been turned upside down the most by this devastating incident.

“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. She worked tirelessly to provide victims with support and get them the justice they deserved.

“While this has been a Cheshire Police investigation, our officers have lost a colleague and a much-loved friend, Leanne was part of the Greater Manchester Police family and we will continue to always be there for her family and friends should they need us.

“We are supporting Leanne’s team mates in their grief and will help them in any way that we can.

“We are also supporting those officers who worked with Darren McKie, who remain extremely shocked by what happened.

“My thoughts will remain with all of those affected.”

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Video: Crown Prosecutor and Leanne McKie's mum speak outside court

Senior Crown Prosecutor Rachael Barber has been speaking outside court.

Leanne’s mum Ellen Dodd the gave a statement following the verdict.

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Leanne's parents: "We have lost our beautiful daughter and our grandchildren have lost their beloved mummy"

​Leanne’s parents Ellen and Ray Dodd have released a statement following the verdict:

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.

We would like to thank our family and friends for their love and support they have given us through these tragic times.

Also Leanne’s friends and her colleagues from work for all their kind words.

We cannot thank Cheshire Police enough for all their hard work and dedication.

Last of all we would like to thank our two liaison officers for their professionalism and guidance through these last six months we are so grateful.

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Judge: A demanding and emotional case

​Mr Justice Spencer tells the jurors:

If I may say so your diligent deliberations in this case have been exceptional.

It’s been a demanding case, not least emotional, and cases like this require big decisions and strength.

He added that the jurors had discharged their public duty ‘faithfully’.​

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McKie is led away

McKie is led away by the dock officer and will return to court on Tuesday to be sentenced.

He makes no eye contact with his parents who are sitting just behind the glass dock as he is led away.

Moments after he is led away, his distraught mother collapses in tears in her seat, comforted by her family.

Leanne McKie’s parents and family comfort each other at the other end of the public gallery.

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How McKie turned from cop to cold-blooded killer

Darren McKie has been convicted of murdering his wife Leanne before dumping her body at Poynton Lake. This is how the police officer - considered a rising star at GMP - turned from cop to cold-blooded killer.

Full story HERE

Debt, lies and murder - how GMP inspector Darren McKie turned from cop to cold-blooded killer

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McKie will be sentenced next week

The judge adjourns sentencing until Tuesday next week.

McKie will be given a life sentence - the judge must decide the minimum tariff applies on Monday.

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Gasps in public gallery

There were gasps from the public gallery as the foreman of the jury delivered the verdict.

McKie stood impassively in the dock, closing his eyes for several seconds after the verdict was delivered.

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BREAKING: Darren McKie is found guilty ​of murder

Darren McKie is found guilty ​of murder.

Darren McKie
Darren McKie (Image: Cheshire Police)
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Judge will now accept a ‘majority’ verdict

The jury comes back into court and is asked whether they have reached a verdict on the murder charge on which all of them are agreed.

The foreman of the jury stands and answers ‘no’.

The judge then sends the jury out again but this time he tells them they should still strive to reach a unanimous verdict, although he will now accept a ‘majority’ verdict, on which at least ten or 11 of the 12 are agreed.
The jury is then sent out of court again to continue deliberations.

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