A man has been jailed for 20 years after he was found guilty of the murder of his partner.
Earlier today Thursday 29 June a jury found Alan Edney guilty of the murder of Kerry Owen after a 4 week trial at Worcester Crown Court.
He has been sentenced to a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 20 years in prison.
Kerry’s body was discovered by a man walking his dog in Wast Hills Lane in Hopwood, Worcestershire on 27 May last year. The man’s dog discovered a pool of blood, Kerry’s body was found nearby.
During the trial the jury heard 31-year-old Edney, of Kenilworth Road, Birmingham, had killed the 35-year-old in a savage beating before dumping her body in a ditch, which he attempted to conceal with grass cuttings.
Edney then spun a web of elaborate lies to cover his tracks, telling family members Kerry had been killed in a hit and run collision and that he had accompanied her body to hospital; he even claimed he had been taken to a police station to give a statement about the collision.
However, unbeknown to Edney a police investigation had begun as soon as Kerry’s body was discovered which promptly unravelled his lies and he was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Gerry Smith, led the murder investigation.
Following Edney’s conviction today, he said:
“Edney spent the hours after he had killed Kerry elaborately covering his tracks; instead of calling for an ambulance after he had brutally attacked her, he sought to cover her body and hide his involvement. He contacted her family and told them she had been killed in a hit and run collision.
“Even after he was arrested on suspicion of her murder he continued to lie, telling officers he had alibis. He later told officers in custody he had been in bed at the time Kerry was killed.
“However, our investigation uncovered Edney’s elaborate web of lies with extensive enquiries, which included forensic, house to house and CCTV enquiries. This proved his account was false and he was in fact responsible for her murder.
“Edney will now face the consequences of his violent and deceitful actions and while today’s verdict will not undo a horrific killing, I hope it brings some solace to Kerry’s family that justice has been done.”
