Family of wealthy heiress, 47, who drowned on holiday get go-ahead to sue her husband for killing her and block his £3.3m life insurance payout after he was cleared of her murder

  • Paula Leeson was 47 years old and from Sale. She died at home in Denmark’s swimming pool in 2017.
  • The wife of Donald McPherson drowned in her holiday boat with the heiress
  • In 2020, he was accused of murder. However, the case collapsed due to insufficient evidence
  • McPherson stood to gain £3.3million in insurance payouts as result of her death










The family of a heiress who drowned on holiday have won a court battle to pursue a civil claim against her husband for unlawful killing – and block a £3million insurance payout.

Paula Leeson of Sale, 47, was killed in the pool of a villa at a distant village in Denmark while she was on vacation with Donald McPherson.

After the judge found insufficient evidence, he was convicted of murdering her in Manchester Crown Court.

McPherson stood to gain £3.3million in insurance payouts as a result of her death, but Ms Leeson’s family are pursuing a civil claim of unlawful killing against him.

The claim was rejected by him, and he attempted to appeal, but the High Court decided that it could be continued. Her family believes this is a step towards justice.

Paula’s body was barely cold when McPherson began transferring money — around £20,000 — from a joint account his wife had administered, to pay off some of his £69,000 debts. (Pictured, Paula Leeson)

McPherson — using the assumed name Donald Somers — was serving time for embezzlement when his Swedish wife Ira Kulppi and their four-year-old daughter Natalie died in a house fire

Paula’s body was barely cold when McPherson began transferring money — around £20,000 — from a joint account his wife had administered, to pay off some of his £69,000 debts. (Pictured: Paula Leeson

McPherson was denied the right to strike out by His Honour Judge Pearce sitting as a High Court Judge.

A court also directed Greater Manchester Police that they disclose any documents which could be used to support the family’s claim.

McPherson was later able to move to New Zealand and was found not guilty of the murder.

He was charged with her murder in 2020, but a trial at Manchester Crown Court (pictured) collapsed after the judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to reach a verdict

After the judge found that there was not enough evidence, he was charged in 2020 with murder.

McPherson stood to gain £3.3million in insurance payouts as a result of her death, but Ms Leeson's family are pursuing a civil claim of unlawful killing against him

Pictured: McPherson

McPherson (pictured) stood to gain £3.3million in insurance payouts as a result of her death, but Ms Leeson’s family are pursuing a civil claim of unlawful killing against him

Willy Leeson, a businessman and entrepreneur who owned his own firm of civil engineers in Greater Manchester was the mother of Ms. Leeson.

Alison Rocca (Partner at Glaisyers ETL) stated: “The Leeson Family are happy that Donald McPherson’s efforts over the past six month to delay and hinder the claim have been defeated.

“His move to New Zealand in recent days will not be enough to protect him from the negative consequences of his actions.

“The McPherson Family is one step closer to getting justice for their loved daughter’s tragic death and to making sure Donald McPherson’s actions are not repeated.”

Next is the hearing for further directions, which will likely take place in March.

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