Husband jailed for life after admitting wife's murder

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 14:43 · Archive

David Barraclough admitted killing his wife Carolann and was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years and six months.

David Barraclough was jailed for life at Leeds Crown Court after admitting to murdering his wife Carolann at their home in Horbury, West Yorkshire in February. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 21 years and six months. Police released footage of Barraclough walking into Normanton Police Station on 5 March and telling officers he had killed his wife.

Barraclough attacked Carolann, 37, a mother of three, with a claw hammer as she lay in bed. He bound her wrists, knees and ankles with packaging tape, wrapped her in a duvet and placed her body in a freezer in their utility room, where it remained for two weeks. Their children were inside the house at the time of the attack.

After the killing, Barraclough sent text messages from Carolann's phone to her daughter pretending she was recovering from an illness in hospital. He also searched online for escorts, signed up to the dating app Tinder and spent his wife's money in local pubs.

Barraclough claimed during police interviews that he had suffered years of domestic abuse and had 'snapped'. He told officers he was a victim and a '17 stone boy no-one will believe'. Judge Andrew Stubbs KC rejected this account, describing it as a 'callous' self-serving cover story. Barraclough pleaded guilty to murder on the first day of a scheduled trial and refused to attend his sentencing.

How it is being reported

• Moment husband walks into police station and admits 'I have killed my wife' after he battered her to death with a hammer and dumped body in a chest freezer at family homeDavid Barraclough, 46, beat Carolann Barraclough around the head with a claw hammer then bound her with packaging tape, wrapped her in a duvet and placed her body in a freezer in their utility room.Daily Mail · 12 Oct, 14:26
• Moment husband who murdered his wife and put body in a freezer admits to her murderMonster David Barraclough, 45, was jailed for life at Leeds Crown Court after he brutally murdered his wife while their children were still inside the houseThe Mirror · 12 Oct, 13:05

In this story: David Barraclough · Carolann Barraclough · Leeds Crown Court · Horbury · West Yorkshire · Normanton Police Station

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