Former police inspector Darren McKie, 43, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years for the murder of his wife, Leanne McKie, a detective constable. The 39-year-old was found strangled in Poynton Lake, Cheshire, on 29 September.
McKie denied murder but admitted manslaughter towards the end of his trial at Chester Crown Court. The jury found him guilty of murder. Sentencing him, Mr Justice Robin Spencer said McKie had 'abused his knowledge of criminal investigations' and 'the public's trust in a senior police officer' after the 'cruel killing'.
The court heard that McKie strangled his wife in their family home after she discovered he had made a loan application for £54,000 without her consent. He forged her signature and misused police computers to obtain her payslips for the application. The couple, who had three children, appeared to have a perfect marriage but were in serious debt exceeding £115,000.
After the murder, McKie placed his wife's body in the boot of her car and drove it to Poynton Lake, returning later that night to dump the body. He continued his day as normal, putting the children to bed before disposing of the body. Police officers spotted him walking barefoot in the early hours and later realised the children had been left alone.
Leanne's mother, Ellen Dodd, said: 'Leanne was our light, and the light has gone out.' Detective Inspector Adam Waller stated: 'Darren McKie clearly thought he could get away with murdering his own wife - and used the knowledge gained as a police officer to try and systematically cover his tracks.'
