Man jailed for car boot murder

Ms McKenzie's body was found a month after she was murdered

A man who murdered his partner and dumped her body in a car boot after learning of her affair with his brother has been jailed for life.

William McInnes, 45, of Toll Cross Street, Parkhead, Glasgow strangled Helen McKenzie at the Blackpool hotel where they were staying.

He left her body in the boot of her Rover car where it lay undiscovered for weeks.

The car salesman was convicted of murder by a jury at Preston Crown Court.

McInnes had denied murder, but admitted strangling Ms McKenzie in a moment of rage.

The judge, Mr Justice MacKay, said McInnes would have to serve at least 14 years before he could be considered for parole.

McInnes claimed he felt betrayed by Ms McKenzie's confession and lost control, putting his hands round her neck.

He told the jury he left the body in the car out of fear and panic.

It stayed there until it was reported abandoned a month later.

'Profound disrespect'

The jury reached a unanimous verdict of guilty after almost three hours.

Mr Justice MacKay said he was convinced McInnes knew what he had done.

The manner in which he hid Ms McKenzie's body in the car and let it decompose for a month showed "profound disrespect" for her.

Earlier in the trial, prosecutors told the court that McInnes and Ms McKenzie had a "turbulent relationship...characterised by arguments and on occasions violence towards her".

Paul Reid QC, prosecuting, said the defendant's brother, Stephen McInnes, started to offer his support to Ms McKenzie to help her deal with the problems.

Three-month affair

There was "no love lost between the brothers", Mr Reid said, and after Ms McKenzie became nervous about returning to her flat, Stephen moved in.

Ms McKenzie and Stephen McInnes began a relationship, which continued for at least three months before she went to Blackpool with the defendant in May, the court heard.

The prosecution said it appeared Ms McKenzie had willingly travelled to Blackpool and they checked into the Andorra hotel on Lonsdale Road.

After his arrest McInnes told police the row which led to Ms McKenzie's death erupted after they had been drinking and she said she had decided to go back to Scotland.