A UK coroner has ruled a New Zealander previously convicted of fraud who was cleared of killing his wealthy wife had in fact murdered her to “financially benefit” from her death in 2017.
Donald McPherson, 53, was ordered to be found not guilty of murdering his wife Paula Leeson, 47, by a judge at Manchester Crown Court in 2021.
The judge at the time asked for a not guilty verdict to be returned after prosecutors couldn’t disprove the defence Leeson had jumped or fallen in a pool where she drowned at a remote cottage on a holiday in Denmark booked by McPherson at the time.
Before Leeson’s death on June 6, 2017, McPherson took out a £3.5 million (NZ$8 million) life insurance policy. Within hours of her death, he was withdrawing money from her accounts to pay off debts.
He also reportedly cleared their home of Leeson's belongings in the town of Sale in the Greater Manchester area.
It is now believed McPherson is living in New Zealand, Daily Mail reported.
In 2024, Daily Mail reported Leeson’s family blocked him from inheriting her £4.4 million (NZ$10 million) estate.
Leeson’s family run a successful plant hire business in south Manchester, which she was set to inherit alongside her brother.
Civil proceedings brought by the family in a UK High Court in 2024 ruled McPherson had killed his wife for money by drowning her in 2017.
Justice Richard Smith said at the time: “His motive for killing Paula was clear – money.”
At the inquest into Leeson’s death, which was pushed back by the murder trial and civil hearings, a Coroner ruled she agreed with the unlawful killing verdict.
Coroner Alison Mutch noted McPherson was in debt and would be the only person to benefit from the death of his wife.
“I am therefore satisfied he did murder his wife.
“Her death occurred because her husband compressed her neck to render her unconscious, causing her body to enter the pool, causing her to drown, to financially benefit from her death.
“Her death was as a result of an unlawful killing.”
Detective chief Inspector Daniel Clegg said at the hearing there was “no doubt this was a homicide”.
“She died at his hands. I have not looked for anyone else.”
McPherson has been previously convicted over a £12 million ($27.5 million) fraud in Germany in 2006.
Sophie Cartwright KC, who represented Leeson’s family at the inquest, asked Clegg: “Your firm belief is that Donald McPherson murdered Paula Leeson?”
He replied: “That’s correct. Donald McPherson had backed himself into a financial crisis and the only way out was with the death of his wife.”
At the inquest, the court heard no retrial for murder could take place unless compelling new evidence is discovered.
Cartwright said the family will continue their fight for a retrial, and hoped police could uncover new evidence to “get them over the line for a retrial” after gaining access in the last year to an old laptop owned by McPherson.
Daily Mail reported McPherson had claimed to be a property developer but was £65,000 (NZ$149,025) in debt.
McPherson has maintained he had no involvement with his wife’s death, and has previously described it as a “tragic accident”.
The Daily Mail said McPherson's real name is Alexander Lang.
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