Understand
Wakefield man jailed for life for murdering wife and hiding body in freezer
Overview
David Barraclough, 46, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years and one month after pleading guilty to murdering his wife, Carolann Barraclough, with a hammer in Horbury, near Wakefield. Following the killing in February, he concealed her body in a chest freezer and spent weeks lying to family, friends and children by claiming she was in hospital, before handing himself in to police on 5 March.
Key points
- David Barraclough killed his wife, Carolann Barraclough, at their home in Horbury between 19 and 21 February.
- He hid her body in a chest freezer and lied to family, friends and neighbours, claiming she was ill in hospital.
- Barraclough used her phone to send messages pretending to be her and stopped children from entering the utility room.
- He walked into Normanton Police Station on 5 March and confessed to the murder.
- Barraclough pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years and one month.