Latest news with #PaulaLeeson
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.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Who was millionaire killed by fraudster husband?
The body of millionaire businesswoman Paula Leeson was found in a pool at a cottage in a remote part of Denmark seven years ago. Her husband, Donald McPherson, who stood to inherit her £4.4m estate in the event of her death, was found by a judge to have held her in an arm-lock before leaving her in the water where she drowned. The 51-year-old - a convicted fraudster - denied murder at a 2021 trial and said her death was a "tragic accident", before a judge ordered the jury to find him not guilty due to a lack of evidence. A new documentary, The Drowning of Paula Leeson, will look into the mystery of her death and the Leeson family's search for justice. The 47-year-old mother from Sale in Greater Manchester oversaw her family construction business, W. Leeson & Son. In 2013, she met Mr McPherson, who at the time claimed to be a property renovator, through the business which she was set to inherit from her father along with her brother. The pair married in 2014 after what her murder trial was told was a "whirlwind romance", with the ceremony held at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire. They had gone on a break to the small Danish town of Norre Nebel in June 2017 to stay in a rented cottage. Three days into the trip, her body was found in a 4ft (1.2m) deep swimming pool at the property, having suffered what pathologists later found to be 13 separate injuries. Mr McPherson told police he had woken up to discovered his wife face down in the pool. It was later revealed in court that he had taken out seven life insurance policies and stood to gain millions if she died. A jury during a 2021 trial at Manchester Crown Court was told it could not find Mr McPherson guilty of murder because the prosecution case was built on circumstantial evidence. Paula Leeson's family then filed a High Court bid to stop the husband inheriting her £4.4m estate. Last year, a judge ruled that Mr McPherson had unlawfully killed his wife, and blocked him from inheriting her wealth. Mr Justice Richard Smith said the "much-loved mother, daughter and sister" had been put in an armlock and then placed her in the pool by her husband. "Don's motive for unlawfully killing Paula Leeson is clear: money", the judge said. In civil courts, the standard of proof for a conviction is to weight the evidence on the balance of probabilities, while in a criminal court, the prosecution must prove a person's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Mr McPherson, born in New Zealand as Alexander James Lang, did not attend the civil proceedings in which he was ruled to have unlawfully killed his wife. The courts head he had changed his name multiple times, and had 32 convictions in 15 years across three countries, including being jailed for an £11m bank fraud in Germany. Lawyers representing the Leeson family's legal team at Glaisyers ETL said he would always reply he had no fixed abode when asked in court documents to say where he lived. They say they believe he is now somewhere in Australasia or the South Pacific. David Jones from the firm said he hoped the documentary "would help the authorities track down Donald McPherson, who appears to have gone to ground, and act as a warning to others who might have fallen under his influence". The Drowning of Paula Leeson will air tonight at Channel 5 at 20:00 BST. 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. Drowned millionaire killed by husband - judge
BBC News
30-04-2025
- BBC News
Who was Paula Leeson and where is husband Donald McPherson now?
The body of millionaire businesswoman Paula Leeson was found in a pool at a cottage in a remote part of Denmark seven years ago. Her husband, Donald McPherson, who stood to inherit her £4.4m estate in the event of her death, was found by a judge to have held her in an arm-lock before leaving her in the water where she 51-year-old - a convicted fraudster - denied murder at a 2021 trial and said her death was a "tragic accident", before a judge ordered the jury to find him not guilty due to a lack of evidence.A new documentary, The Drowning of Paula Leeson, will look into the mystery of her death and the Leeson family's search for justice. Who was Paula Leeson? The 47-year-old mother from Sale in Greater Manchester oversaw her family construction business, W. Leeson & 2013, she met Mr McPherson, who at the time claimed to be a property renovator, through the business which she was set to inherit from her father along with her pair married in 2014 after what her murder trial was told was a "whirlwind romance", with the ceremony held at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire. What happened to her? They had gone on a break to the small Danish town of Norre Nebel in June 2017 to stay in a rented cottage. Three days into the trip, her body was found in a 4ft (1.2m) deep swimming pool at the property, having suffered what pathologists later found to be 13 separate injuries. Mr McPherson told police he had woken up to discovered his wife face down in the was later revealed in court that he had taken out seven life insurance policies and stood to gain millions if she died. What happened in the courts? A jury during a 2021 trial at Manchester Crown Court was told it could not find Mr McPherson guilty of murder because the prosecution case was built on circumstantial evidence. Paula Leeson's family then filed a High Court bid to stop the husband inheriting her £4.4m estate. Last year, a judge ruled that Mr McPherson had unlawfully killed his wife, and blocked him from inheriting her wealth. Mr Justice Richard Smith said the "much-loved mother, daughter and sister" had been put in an armlock and then placed her in the pool by her husband. "Don's motive for unlawfully killing Paula Leeson is clear: money", the judge civil courts, the standard of proof for a conviction is to weight the evidence on the balance of probabilities, while in a criminal court, the prosecution must prove a person's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Where is Donald McPherson? Mr McPherson, born in New Zealand as Alexander James Lang, did not attend the civil proceedings in which he was ruled to have unlawfully killed his wife. The courts head he had changed his name multiple times, and had 32 convictions in 15 years across three countries, including being jailed for an £11m bank fraud in Germany. Lawyers representing the Leeson family's legal team at Glaisyers ETL said he would always reply he had no fixed abode when asked in court documents to say where he lived. They say they believe he is now somewhere in Australasia or the South Jones from the firm said he hoped the documentary "would help the authorities track down Donald McPherson, who appears to have gone to ground, and act as a warning to others who might have fallen under his influence". The Drowning of Paula Leeson will air tonight at Channel 5 at 20:00 BST. 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.
