Desmond Lee
| AKA | |
| DOB | 1971 |
| Occupation | |
| Kill Total | 2 |
| Kill Place | Dewsbury |
| Kill Date | 1989 & 2009 |
| M.O. | Strangulation |
| Victim | Shirley Carr Christopher Pratt |
| Court | Leeds Crown Court |
| Judge | Mrs Justice Nicola Davies |
| Prosceution | |
| Defence | Alan Newman, QC |
| Case No: |
1989, Lee killed his landlady, Shirley Carr, strangling her with his bare hands, he was 19-years-old at the time.
Lee said he attacked Ms Carr after she taunted him over the break-up of his first gay relationship and blamed his alcoholism for the incident.
After pleading not guilty to murder he was convicted and served 14 years of a life sentence.
2004, Lee was released on life licence.
15th August 2009, Christopher Pratt was a married father of two, While at the flat in Sackville Street, Ravensthorpe, near Dewsbury, Lee killed his lover by breaking his voice box and a bone in his neck.
The body was still in the flat when Lee stole Mr Pratt’s credit and debit cards, paid off a phone bill, bought alcohol for a party with neighbours, ordered more than £200 worth of food from Asda and attempted to buy £1,181 worth of goods from Argos.
The day after the murder, he bundled Mr Pratt’s naked body into the back of the dead man’s car and drove to Scammonden, where he dumped it on moorland off New Hey Road.
Wednesday 26th August 2009, Mr Pratt's naked body was discovered on bleak moorland by a jogger, some 11-days after he had been murdered and dumped by Lee.
Tuesday 13th October 2009, Lee appeared before Dewsbury Magistrates court charged with murder, he was remanded in custody.
13th April 2010, At Leeds Crown Court, Lee admitted killing his gay lover Mr Pratt, but claims it was a freak sex accident.
24th April 2010, After retiring to consider a verdict, the jury took just an hour and 45 minutes to find Lee guilty of murdering Mr Pratt.
Judge Mrs Justice Nicola Davies told Lee: “Less than five years after your release you killed Christopher Pratt. “You are a dangerous and evil man.”
She added: “In the circumstances, the order which I propose to make is a whole life order, which is exactly what it means". “Life in your case should mean life.”
Lee joins a Home Office list of prisoners on a 'Whole Life Tariff', see list here >>
Lee said he attacked Ms Carr after she taunted him over the break-up of his first gay relationship and blamed his alcoholism for the incident.
After pleading not guilty to murder he was convicted and served 14 years of a life sentence.
2004, Lee was released on life licence.
15th August 2009, Christopher Pratt was a married father of two, While at the flat in Sackville Street, Ravensthorpe, near Dewsbury, Lee killed his lover by breaking his voice box and a bone in his neck.
The body was still in the flat when Lee stole Mr Pratt’s credit and debit cards, paid off a phone bill, bought alcohol for a party with neighbours, ordered more than £200 worth of food from Asda and attempted to buy £1,181 worth of goods from Argos.
The day after the murder, he bundled Mr Pratt’s naked body into the back of the dead man’s car and drove to Scammonden, where he dumped it on moorland off New Hey Road.
Wednesday 26th August 2009, Mr Pratt's naked body was discovered on bleak moorland by a jogger, some 11-days after he had been murdered and dumped by Lee.
Tuesday 13th October 2009, Lee appeared before Dewsbury Magistrates court charged with murder, he was remanded in custody.
13th April 2010, At Leeds Crown Court, Lee admitted killing his gay lover Mr Pratt, but claims it was a freak sex accident.
24th April 2010, After retiring to consider a verdict, the jury took just an hour and 45 minutes to find Lee guilty of murdering Mr Pratt.
Judge Mrs Justice Nicola Davies told Lee: “Less than five years after your release you killed Christopher Pratt. “You are a dangerous and evil man.”
She added: “In the circumstances, the order which I propose to make is a whole life order, which is exactly what it means". “Life in your case should mean life.”
Lee joins a Home Office list of prisoners on a 'Whole Life Tariff', see list here >>