Donald McPherson was seen grinning in a selfie that a judge labelled as ‘chilling’, moments before his wife Paula Leeson was found dead.
Paula Leeson, from Sale, tragically drowned in a pool at a secluded holiday cottage in Denmark in 2017, a trip arranged by her husband Donald McPherson. The 51 year old ‘serial liar’ McPherson was put on trial for her death in 2021, but halfway through the proceedings, a judge instructed the jury to find him not guilty of murdering his 47 year old wife.
Despite the circumstantial evidence, the judge ruled that a jury could not be certain beyond reasonable doubt that he had murdered her. It was previously revealed in court that McPherson, dubbed a ‘man of straw’, had secretly taken out multiple life insurance policies on his wife prior to her death, amounting to £3.5m alone.
READ MORE: Jay Slater’s family’s face fresh agony as notorious ‘YouTube sleuth’ claims to have new evidence
Click for more of the latest news from across the world from the Daily Star.
(Image: PA)
After the criminal case concluded, the Leeson family initiated a civil claim against him to prevent him from profiting from his wife’s death. On Friday (September 6), following the case at Manchester’s Civil Justice Centre, a judge ruled – on the balance of probabilities – that McPherson unlawfully killed Ms Leeson.
He was barred from claiming any part of her £4.4m estate, reports the Manchester Evening News. Paula tragically drowned in the pool before 1.36pm, which is when McPherson rang up emergency services, as per the court’s findings. Paramedics rocked up at 1.58pm and discovered Paula by the poolside. A doctor clocked her death at 4.26pm.
Earlier this week, Neville Leeson, Paula’s brother, handed over to the Manchester Evening News a photo of Mr McPherson taken just moments before her untimely death, described by the judge in the latest hearing as ‘chilling’. Paula’s been snipped out of the pic by her kin.
(Image: No credit)
Mr Justice Richard Smith said: “It is no exaggeration to say that lies and dishonesty pervade every aspect of Don’s life; Don lies to anyone if it might serve his interests.
“I have no hesitation in concluding that Don unlawfully killed Paula in Denmark. With his financial fortunes waning by 2017, but his wanderlust growing more intense, Don decided that now was the time to cash in on the life insurance policies he had started to procure on Paula’s life before they were even married and to which she was oblivious. With that design, he chose and booked a holiday he could ill afford at a cottage in a remote part of Denmark, knowing that there would be no other witness to his brutal actions.”
“The photographs of them standing together on the last day of their holiday, both smiling, Don knowing that he was about to kill Paula, Paula oblivious to his homicidal intentions, are particularly chilling.”
A spokesperson from Greater Manchester Police confirmed they’re ready to ‘continue to assess all the appropriate information’ before deciding on restarting a criminal probe. A pre-inquest review is scheduled for later this month.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.