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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| David Ryan guilty of lover Diana Lee's murder in Cheshire | David Ryan guilty of lover Diana Lee's murder in Cheshire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man has been found guilty of murdering his lover and mutilating the body to cover his tracks, after cheating her out of £60,000. | A man has been found guilty of murdering his lover and mutilating the body to cover his tracks, after cheating her out of £60,000. |
| David Ryan, 48, of Byrom Street, Altrincham, killed Diana Lee, 54, at her home in Cranage, Cheshire, last August, a jury found. | David Ryan, 48, of Byrom Street, Altrincham, killed Diana Lee, 54, at her home in Cranage, Cheshire, last August, a jury found. |
| Her naked body was found in the garage by firefighters called out to a blaze started by Ryan. | Her naked body was found in the garage by firefighters called out to a blaze started by Ryan. |
| Ryan is due to be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday. | Ryan is due to be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Ruth Purdie said Ryan targeted Ms Lee to trick her into giving him money to cover his "mountain of debt". | Assistant Chief Constable Ruth Purdie said Ryan targeted Ms Lee to trick her into giving him money to cover his "mountain of debt". |
| 'Brutal and sadistic' | 'Brutal and sadistic' |
| She said: "We have been left in little doubt that Ryan′s attack on Diana − a diminutive and gentle lady - was brutal and sadistic. | She said: "We have been left in little doubt that Ryan′s attack on Diana − a diminutive and gentle lady - was brutal and sadistic. |
| "He showed contempt and compounded his disregard for her when he did his utmost to remove DNA evidence and then destroy her body. | "He showed contempt and compounded his disregard for her when he did his utmost to remove DNA evidence and then destroy her body. |
| "He concocted a web of lies and brutally murdered a woman who had done nothing more than fall for the charm of a conman." | "He concocted a web of lies and brutally murdered a woman who had done nothing more than fall for the charm of a conman." |
| Ryan befriended Ms Lee, who ran the Parklands Cattery. | Ryan befriended Ms Lee, who ran the Parklands Cattery. |
| He did not tell her he was married and tricked her into giving him cash by asking her to invest in a "bogus business", the court heard. | He did not tell her he was married and tricked her into giving him cash by asking her to invest in a "bogus business", the court heard. |
| Ryan owned a glazing and conservatory firm, but was declared bankrupt in June 2012. | |
| During their two-year relationship, Ms Lee withdrew £70,000 from various accounts and Ryan's "cash purchases and deposits" totalled "more than £60,000", despite the fact he had no income and huge debts, prosecutors said. | |
| Family 'destroyed' | |
| After bludgeoning her to death he mutilated her body and set four fires around the house in an attempt to destroy DNA evidence, the jury was told. | After bludgeoning her to death he mutilated her body and set four fires around the house in an attempt to destroy DNA evidence, the jury was told. |
| He then tried to "frame" Ms Lee's lodger Andrew Leese by dipping his antique German dagger in her blood and planting her underwear in his room. | He then tried to "frame" Ms Lee's lodger Andrew Leese by dipping his antique German dagger in her blood and planting her underwear in his room. |
| Mr Justice Henriques said the case against Ryan was "absolutely overwhelming". | Mr Justice Henriques said the case against Ryan was "absolutely overwhelming". |
| In a statement Ms Lee's family said her death had left a hole in the lives of those that knew her. | |
| They added: "It is hard enough to deal with the death of a loved one through sickness, accident or old age but Diana's death was planned. | |
| "Every effort, calculated and brutal, was made by the perpetrator to try and ensure he could not be traced. | |
| "David Ryan has only showed himself to be a coward. He has lied to try and explain away his barbaric crime. He feels no remorse or regret. | |
| "His selfishness and indifference is no more than contempt for the life he has cruelly snubbed out and the family he has destroyed." |