Anya Horwood successfully prosecutes husband for murder of detective constable wife

March 26, 2018

Anya Horwood from Exchange Chambers, led by Nigel Power QC, has successfully prosecuted a police inspector who has been found guilty of murdering his wife and dumping her body in a lake.

Darren McKie, 43, denied murdering his wife Leanne but admitted manslaughter towards the end of his trial. Mrs McKie, 39, a detective constable, was found strangled in Poynton Lake in Cheshire on 29 September.

Jurors at Chester Crown Court deliberated for almost two days before reaching a majority verdict. McKie will be sentenced on Tuesday.

The couple, who both worked for Greater Manchester Police (GMP), had financial problems and owed more than £100,000, the court heard.

They had appeared to be a “perfect family” but were really living “well beyond their means”, prosecutors said.

The jury rejected McKie’s defence barrister’s suggestion that the killing had not been intentional and was a “terrible, terrible mistake”.

Det Supt Aaron Duggan, who led the investigation, said: “This is a very tragic case, we have got three children here who have been left without a mother – and sadly also a father – because of his actions.

“I think he has completely distanced himself from the reality of what he has done. I think it’s very very sad that he’s waited until all the evidence has been presented before he has admitted his guilt.

“We can’t lose sight of the fact that it has involved two police officers but we haven’t treated the case any differently because of that.”

Anya is a member of the criminal team at Exchange Chambers.