Donald McPherson, the husband of millionaire businesswoman Paula Leeson, never served prison time for her death despite a civil court ruling that he unlawfully killed her. Leeson, 47, was found dead in a swimming pool in Norre Nebel, Denmark, in June 2017, just three days into a holiday with McPherson.
What Happened to Paula Leeson?
Paula Leeson, who oversaw her family construction business in Greater Manchester, met Donald McPherson in 2013 and married him a year later. In June 2017, the couple traveled to Denmark, renting a cottage with a swimming pool in the small town of Norre Nebel. On the third day of the trip, McPherson reported finding his wife face down in the pool. Initially, Danish police treated the death as a tragic accident, but an autopsy later revealed 13 separate external injuries on Leeson's body.
Why Donald McPherson Never Went to Prison for Paula's Death
McPherson has consistently denied any involvement in his wife's death, maintaining it was a tragic accident. In 2021, he stood trial for murder at Manchester Crown Court, but the judge directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict midway through the trial due to insufficient evidence. As a result, McPherson was acquitted of criminal charges.
However, in 2024, a High Court judge ruled in a civil trial brought by Leeson's family that McPherson had unlawfully killed her. The judge found that McPherson held Leeson in an arm-lock until she lost consciousness, then left her in the water to drown. Since this was a civil proceeding, the ruling only prevented McPherson from accessing Leeson's estate, not from facing criminal punishment.
Contempt of Court and Prison Sentence
In May 2025, McPherson was sentenced to two years in prison for contempt of court after repeatedly failing to disclose his assets during the civil proceedings. Judge Mark Cawson KC stated that the contempt was "so serious that only a custodial sentence will suffice." He added that McPherson would serve only half of the sentence if he complied with the asset disclosure order.
Judge Cawson also noted McPherson's extensive criminal record, saying, "He is plainly a man of bad character." McPherson has committed 32 criminal offenses of dishonesty and fraud across multiple jurisdictions over 15 years, including involvement in an £11.8 million fraud against Commerzbank in Germany, for which he was jailed for three years in 2005.
Where Is Donald McPherson Now?
As of September 2024, McPherson was believed to be living somewhere in the South Pacific. In December 2025, the BBC reported that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had declined to pursue a criminal retrial. Leeson's family had presented new evidence from her smartwatch, but the Director of Public Prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, concluded after a detailed review that the legal test for a retrial was not met.
A Channel 5 documentary, The Drowning of Paula Leeson, airing tonight at 10pm, explores the mystery of her death and her family's ongoing search for justice.
