Former police officer Darren McKie was jailed for life after strangling his wife Leanne, 39, also a police officer, at their home in Wilmslow, in Cheshire
A police inspector who murdered his wife and then dumped her body in a lake has been sacked from Greater Manchester Police.
Darren McKie, 43, was jailed for life after strangling his wife Leanne, 39, at their home in Wilmslow, Cheshire.
He is currently an inmate at HMP Altcourse, in Liverpool, and must serve a minimum 19 years before he can be considered for release.
At a special case hearing at GMP headquarters in Newton Heath, Manchester, Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said McKie’s actions ‘damaged the reputation of Greater Manchester Police’ and ‘undermined public trust in the police.’
He said: ‘It is inconceivable that an officer could remain in post after such a serious breach,’
‘Mr McKie has damaged the reputation of Greater Manchester Police and undermined the public’s trust in the police.
‘His appalling actions led to the unimaginable loss of a mother, a daughter and a serving officer.’
McKie did not attend the misconduct hearing on Wednesday afternoon.
McKie killed his wife because he feared ‘repercussions’ after she discovered he had been taking out huge loans in her name
After murdering Leanne, McKie, pictured with their three children, placed her body into her Mini Countryman car and parked it around the corner
He also declined representation by the Police Federation and made no written representations.
Mr Hopkins took less than 20 minutes to consider all the facts of the case, and McKie’s record, before dismissing him from the force without notice.
He was also placed on the police barring list.
The Chief Constable stated that McKie’s conduct failed to meet appropriate policing standards and brought profession into disrepute.
It was the ‘most serious’ breach amounting to gross misconduct, he said.
‘I am satisfied that disciplinary action should be imposed as this is the most serious case I have come across in 29 years of policing,’ he said.
When Leanne discovered that McKie had applied for a £54,000 loan behind her back, he strangled her breaking two bones in her neck
McKie was caught because he had no shoes on , having dumped them in a wheelie bin (pictured) because Leanne’s blood had stained them
Debt-ridden McKie was half way through his shift at Stretford police station when he left work and returned home to Wilmslow, Cheshire, last September 28.
When Leanne discovered that McKie had applied for a £54,000 loan behind her back, he strangled her breaking two bones in her neck.
A Chester Crown Court judge said he had ‘no doubt’ that McKie killed his wife because he feared ‘repercussions’ after she discovered he had hacked into her work computer to get a payslip and forged her signature for a loan as the family’s finances spiralled out of control.
After murdering Leanne, McKie placed her body into her Mini Countryman car and parked it around the corner, before going to collect their three children.
He put the children to bed, then drove the Mini to Poynton Lake, Cheshire, eight miles from their home, where he dragged Leanne’s body 140 metres into the water.
McKie put the children to bed, then drove the Mini to Poynton Lake, where he dragged Leanne’s body 140 metres into the water
The officer abandoned the car, but was stopped twice by police as he walked the eight miles home.
On the second occasion, he was found without shoes after dumping his trainers in a bin as he neared home.
The shoes were later discovered with his wife’s blood on them, as well as soil in the tread from Poynton Lake.
In the middle of his trial. McKie finally admitted manslaughter but claimed it was a terrible accident.
He claimed he and his wife had simply argued and that Leanne had driven off, although he did not give evidence during the trial.
The couple had been spending way beyond their means and were more than £100,000 in debt, not including the £300,000 mortgage on their home, the court heard.
A jury found him guilty of murder by a majority of 11 to one.