Court Jails David Barraclough for Wife Murder in Wakefield

David Barraclough, 46, has been jailed for life after murdering his wife Carolann Barraclough at their home in Horbury, near Wakefield, and hiding her body in a chest freezer for about two weeks before admitting the killing at Normanton Police Station.

Leeds Crown Court sentenced Barraclough to a minimum term of 22 years and one month after he pleaded guilty to murder and refused to attend his sentencing hearing. Police found Carolann's body tied up inside the freezer in the home's utility room.

According to prosecutors, Barraclough told relatives, friends and neighbours that Carolann was recovering in hospital, while messages from her phone suggested she would return home. The Crown Prosecution Service said he also withdrew money from a joint account, visited pubs and downloaded Tinder two days after her death.

Jill May, senior crown prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire and Humberside, described the deception following the murder.

"After brutally murdering Carolann, Barraclough hid her body in the home she shared with her children and lied repeatedly to her friends and family as he spun a calculated web of lies, pretending she was alive and recovering from illness in hospital." said Jill May, senior crown prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire and Humberside.

The CPS said Barraclough later claimed he acted in self-defence after being struck with a hammer, but prosecutors rejected that account after reviewing evidence including CCTV footage.

"David Barraclough tried to paint himself as a victim of domestic abuse who had no choice but to kill his wife and was heartbroken by what had happened. The evidence told a very different story." said Jill May, senior crown prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire and Humberside.

May also addressed Barraclough's conduct after the killing.

"His actions in the weeks after her death, including downloading dating apps and taking out large sums of money from their joint account, were blatantly not those of a man in mourning." said Jill May, senior crown prosecutor for CPS Yorkshire and Humberside.

Detective Inspector Tom Hilyer of West Yorkshire Police said investigators disproved Barraclough's account and described his actions after the murder.

"David Barraclough is a very manipulative and calculating individual who not only brutally killed his wife, but then went to extreme lengths to fabricate a defence that suggested he wasn’t responsible for what he had done." said Detective Inspector Tom Hilyer, West Yorkshire Police.

He said the evidence showed Barraclough had attempted to present himself as a victim.

"In my view, he's a very devious and calculating individual." said Detective Inspector Tom Hilyer, West Yorkshire Police.

"He was trying to present himself as a victim of domestic abuse, suggesting that Carolann had attacked him initially and he had fought back." said Detective Inspector Tom Hilyer, West Yorkshire Police.

"I would say his actions in the aftermath of the murder and in the period before he walked into Normanton Police Station were wholly about self-gratification, were wholly in the interest of David Barraclough and were absolutely inconsistent with the suggestion that he had any remorse at all about he'd sadly done to Carolann." said Detective Inspector Tom Hilyer, West Yorkshire Police.

Barraclough admitted the murder after initially denying the offence. He walked into Normanton Police Station and told a receptionist, "I've killed my wife."

Carolann's family described the impact of her death and highlighted the loss experienced by her children.

"Caz was a vital and irreplaceable part of our family. The world is a much darker place without her." said Carolann Barraclough's family.

"For two weeks they were told their mum was in hospital, but their mum was in their own home." said Carolann Barraclough's children's statement.

"Caz was the bright light of our family" said Carolann Barraclough's family. "Their world, their security and the future they were supposed to have with their mum" said Carolann Barraclough's children's statement.