Latest news with #DonaldMcPherson
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Kiwi fraudster Donald McPherson found to have killed his wife, jailed for two years
Kiwi fraudster Donald McPherson, who was found to have killed his ex-wife, has been jailed for two years for contempt of court. Paula Leeson, 47, from Sale near Manchester, died in a swimming pool while on holiday with Takapuna-born McPherson, born Alexander James Lang, in Denmark in 2017.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Fraudster who killed wife Paula Leeson sentenced for contempt of court
A fraudster who was found to have unlawfully killed his millionaire wife in Denmark has been sentenced to two years in prison for contempt of McPherson was cleared of the murder of Paula Leeson in 2021 when a judge directed a jury to find him not guilty through a lack of an inquest judge found he had unlawfully killed Ms Leeson, who drowned in the swimming pool at a remote holiday cottage booked by her husband for a summer break in was found to be in contempt of court after failing to disclose assets. A High Court judge found McPherson had unlawfully killed Ms Leeson after her family sought to block him from benefiting from her death and her £4.4 million was millionaire killed by fraudster husband?In September last year, the judge concluded that McPherson compressed his wife's neck in an arm lock until she was authorities initially treated the death as a tragic accident, though she had suffered 13 separate external has always denied any involvement in his wife's death and had told police he awoke to find Ms Leeson face down in the shallow pool. 'Bad character' In January, McPherson was found to be in contempt of court when he failed to disclose Mark Cawson KC said in a judgment in February, which was published on Wednesday, that the contempt was "so serious that only a custodial sentence will suffice".He sentenced McPherson to two years in prison, adding he would only serve half of that in the event that he complied with the asset disclosure "has committed some 32 criminal offences of dishonesty and fraud in various jurisdictions throughout the world", Judge Cawson said: "In these circumstances, there is simply no basis for any discount being given on the basis of the defendant being of good character. "He is plainly a man of bad character."Ms Leeson's family run a successful skip and plant hire business in south Manchester, which Ms Leeson helped to run, and where she first came into contact with McPherson, who claimed to be a successful property had taken out several secret life insurance policies on his wife before her death, worth £ running out of money, he was paying about £500 a month on insurance was described at a previous court hearing as a "Walter Mitty" who had changed his name multiple times and whose previous wife and child died in a house 32 convictions span 15 years in three the time of the High Court judge's inquest ruling in September, he was believed to be living somewhere in the South Pacific. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Fraudster who was found to have killed his wife for a £4.4million insurance payout years after being cleared of murder is jailed... but not for her death
A fraudster who was found to have unlawfully killed his wealthy wife in Denmark has been sentenced to two years in prison but not for his partner's death. Donald McPherson was originally cleared of the murder of Paula Leeson when a judge directed a jury in 2021 to find him not guilty through a lack of evidence. Ms Leeson drowned in the swimming pool at a remote holiday cottage in Denmark booked by McPherson for a summer break in 2017. A civil case brought by Ms Leeson's family last September concluded that the 47-year-old mother-of-one's death was not accidental and that McPherson had unlawfully killed his wife, hoping to cash in on life insurance policies worth £4.4 million he had secretly taken out. The High Court judge found that McPherson compressed his wife's neck in an arm lock until she was unconscious. Danish authorities initially treated the death as a tragic accident, though she had suffered 13 separate external injuries. Her husband of three years McPherson has always denied any involvement in his wife's death and claimed he had found her there, fully clothed and unconscious, during their Scandinavian weekend mini-break In January this year, McPherson was found to be in contempt of court when he failed to disclose assets. However, a civil case brought by Ms Leeson's family last September concluded that the 47-year-old mother-of-one's death was not accidental and that McPherson had unlawfully killed his wife, hoping to cash in on life insurance policies worth £4.4 million he had secretly taken out Once they were husband and wife, and without Ms Leeson's knowledge, he started paying £460 a month in life insurance premiums, despite his huge debts. Months after their wedding, he forged a new will and trust documents which would give him control of MS Leeson's finances if she died. Judge Mark Cawson KC said in a judgment in February, published on Wednesday, that the contempt is 'so serious that only a custodial sentence will suffice'. He sentenced McPherson to two years in prison, adding he will only serve half of that in the event that he complies with the asset disclosure order. Last April, the High Court in Manchester was told that McPherson was 'a serial liar' who had been convicted of 32 offences of fraud or dishonesty in New Zealand, Germany and the UK. The court was played recordings of McPherson's phone calls to a string of insurers in which he checked he would receive a pay-out in the event of her death. Mr Cawson continued: 'In these circumstances, there is simply no basis for any discount being given on the basis of the defendant being of good character. He is plainly a man of bad character.' Ms Leeson's family run a successful skip and plant hire business in south Manchester, which Ms Leeson helped to run, and where she first came into contact with McPherson, who claimed to be a successful property developer. McPherson had taken out multiple secret life insurance policies on his wife before her death, worth £3.5 million alone. Despite running out of money, he was paying about £500 a month on insurance policies. McPherson was described at a previous court hearing as a 'Walter Mitty' who had changed his name multiple times and whose previous wife and their child died in a house fire, while his 32 convictions span 15 years in three countries. At the time of the High Court judge's ruling in September, he was believed to be living somewhere in the South Pacific.
The Irish Sun
28-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
Who was Donald McPherson's wife Paula Leeson and what happened to her?
WHEN millionaire heiress Paula Leeson was found dead in a swimming pool in a Danish holiday cottage in 2017, local police initially ruled it was a tragic accident. But Advertisement 4 A judge ruled that Paula Leeson was unlawfully killed by her husband Donald McPherson Credit: PA Who was Paula Leeson? Paula Leeson was a wealthy businesswoman from Sale, Greater Manchester, and a much-loved mother, daughter and sister. She was involved in her family's successful skip and plant hire business. In 2014, she married Donald McPherson (born Alexander James Lang), a man who presented himself as a property developer but was really a convicted fraudster with a history of deception and multiple aliases. The couple met in 2013 and quickly embarked on a whirlwind romance, culminating in a lavish wedding at a Cheshire castle. Advertisement read more on paula leeson In June 2017, Paula Leeson died under suspicious circumstances while on holiday with her husband at a remote cottage in Denmark. She was found face down in a swimming pool less than four feet deep. Despite being able to swim and the shallow depth of the pool, she drowned, raising questions among her family and investigators. Tragic 'accident' Initially, Danish authorities treated Paula's death as a tragic accident. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Live Blog However, further investigation revealed that Paula had suffered 13 separate external injuries, with murder charges brought by Greater Manchester Police. Prior to her death, McPherson secretly took out seven life insurance policies and stood to gain £3.5million from these if she died. Within hours of her passing, he transferred thousands of pounds from her accounts to cover his debts and began clearing their home of her possessions. He also deleted data from her phone that could have shed light on the events leading up to her death. Advertisement Legal proceedings Donald McPherson was prosecuted for Paula Leeson's murder in 2021. However, halfway through the trial, I cannot begin to comprehend the pain and heartache that the Leesons have experienced as a result of Paula's death, particularly in the appalling circumstances of her unlawful killing at the hands of Don Mr Justice Smith Manchester Civil Justice Centre Stopping the trial, Mr Justice Goose said there were two available possibilities. Firstly, McPherson restrained his wife under water or overcame her in a struggle or pushed her to cause her to drown. Advertisement Or secondly, Ms Leeson drowned by an accident, by a trip, fall or a faint, causing her to fall into the water. He added: "Whilst the first of those alternatives is clearly more likely, that does not mean that a jury, on the face of the pathological evidence alone, could be sure of it." 4 Paula Leeson's brother Neville Leeson (left) and father Willy Leeson (right) pictured outside Manchester Civil Justice Centre Credit: PA So McPherson was found not guilty of murder and was not jailed for killing Paula Leeson. Advertisement Civil case Unsatisfied with the criminal verdict, Paula's dad Willy — an Irish businessman and owner of the family construction firm — brother Neville and her son Ben brought the case to Manchester Civil Justice Centre. In September 2024, Mr Justice Smith ruled on the balance of probabilities — the lower civil standard of proof — that McPherson had unlawfully killed Paula. 4 Mr Justice Smith ruled that Donald McPherson was 'manifestly unsuitable to act as a trustee' of his wife's life insurance policies Credit: MEN Media Advertisement The judge found that McPherson deliberately compressed her neck in an armlock, rendering her unconscious, before placing her in the pool to ensure she drowed. The court concluded that his motive was financial gain and that he had been convicted of 32 criminal offences of dishonesty or fraud in New Zealand, where he was born. The judge said: "In light of these findings, the Forfeiture Claim succeeds. "Likewise, for the reasons stated in the judgment, Don is manifestly unsuitable to act as a trustee of the LV and Scottish Widows life insurance policies and will be removed and replaced by Ben. Advertisement 4 Paula Leeson, who could swim, was found dead in a swimming pool less than four feet deep "The Trusts Claim also succeeds. The Court also found that Don had forged the signature of one of the witnesses to Paula's 2014 will. That will being invalid, Paula died intestate. "Don having disqualified himself by his homicidal actions, Ben will be appointed as personal representative of Paula's estate. The Probate Claim also succeeds. "I cannot begin to comprehend the pain and heartache that the Leesons have experienced as a result of Paula's death, particularly in the appalling circumstances of her unlawful killing at the hands of Don. Advertisement "I thank them for the enormous dignity they have shown during these proceedings." Was Donald McPherson ever jailed? Despite the civil court's finding that McPherson unlawfully killed Paula, he was never convicted in a criminal court and has not served any jail time for her death. He was acquitted of murder in 2021 and is reportedly living somewhere in the South Pacific. The civil ruling blocks him from inheriting any part of Paula Leeson's estate, but it does not carry a prison sentence. Advertisement
