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Innocent Female Uber Driver, 61, Shot Dead by 81-Year-Old Ohio Man Who Was Targeted by Scammers A convicted fraudster, who stands accused of drowning his heiress wife to collect her $4 million life insurance, has been described in court today as a habitual liar whose life of deception extends far beyond the realm of imagination.

Donald McPherson was acquitted of the murder charges in the tragic incident involving Paula Leeson at a swimming pool in Denmark.

Man Accused of Drowning Heiress Wife for Insurance

Prosecutors were unable to refute his claim that she had either fallen in or jumped.

Now Leeson's family is seeking a judge's ruling that her husband was responsible for her death, which would result in him forfeiting the substantial insurance he is entitled to from the policies he obtained without her knowledge before her death.

The lawyers presented to the High Court the extensive history of name changes and criminal convictions of McPherson, a New Zealand-born individual.

Over a span of 15 years, McPherson accumulated 32 convictions in three different countries. Additionally, it was revealed that his previous wife and their child tragically died in a mysterious house fire, according to The Sun.

Lesley Anderson KC, representing the Leeson family, argued in court in Manchester that the incident was a result of a crime motivated by greed.

The family, who operate a thriving civil engineering company that Leeson and her brother Neville were set to inherit, have vowed to persist in their battle to prevent McPherson from profiting from Paula's tragic demise, despite the exorbitant legal expenses they face.

McPherson, who departed from the UK after being acquitted, has chosen not to be present at the trial and is representing himself without legal counsel.

In June 2017, he arranged for the couple, who resided in Sale, Greater Manchester, to stay in a secluded chalet in Denmark that featured an indoor pool.

On the final day of their journey, McPherson urgently contacted emergency services, explaining that he discovered his wife fully dressed in the pool, which had a depth of less than 4ft, after they had taken a nap.

However, Anderson strongly disputed the allegation, calling it "clearly false" and pointing out inconsistencies with the steps recorded on her health app.

Prosecutors allege that shortly after her death, McPherson wasted no time indulging in a steak dinner, having transferred over £20,000 ($24,900) from their shared account to begin addressing his financial obligations.

However, the trial came to an abrupt halt when the prosecution failed to refute his claim that she had either fallen in or jumped.

The judge delivered a not guilty verdict, even though he acknowledged that it was highly probable that he was responsible for her death rather than it being an accident. This decision has sparked outrage from her grieving family, who have strongly criticized McPherson.

Donald McPherson's Previous Wife Also Died in 'Accident'

The jurors were kept unaware of McPherson's hidden history of fraudulent activities, which included a conviction in London for obtaining property through deceptive means.

It was later discovered that he had been imprisoned in Germany for embezzlement, following the theft of £12 million ($14.95 million) from Commerzbank.

During his time in prison, tragedy struck when his partner and young child lost their lives in a devastating fire in Australia. McPherson claimed that the fire was intentionally set as part of a criminal scheme to extort him.

During the murder trial, the defense team presented the argument that the neck injuries discovered on Leeson's body were a result of resuscitation efforts.

In documents supporting the claim of unlawful killing, brought by her father William, 81, and her son Ben, 36, Anderson argues that she was subjected to a "neck lock" that could have caused unconsciousness within ten seconds.

According to her testimony in court, she pointed out how quickly he transferred thousands of pounds to his bank account, suggesting a sense of urgency in his pursuit of the money.

They also allege that McPherson was involved in the fabrication of Leeson's will and documents pertaining to £800,000 ($996,000) held in trust, Mirror reported.

After being acquitted, McPherson maintained that his wife's death was a tragic accident.