Moment ‘cowardly’ killer is arrested after dumping his friend’s body parts in ponds in Essex – The Sun
THIS is the chilling moment a killer who ‘thought he could get away with murder’ was handcuffed by police at his home.
Shocking footage shows a confused Lee Clarke, 56, being arrested in Wedhey, Harlow, after brutally dumping his friend’s remains at several prisons. Essex ponds.
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Officers placed the twisted suspect in handcuffs on January 4 last year on suspicion of murdering his friend and father-of-two, Phillip Lewis, 59.
CCTV showed that Clarke previously had difficulty disposing of items from his property.
He appeared to be dragging large bags and what looked like a tarpaulin down the stairs of the building.
The cowardly killer hid his face from cameras under a hood and a thick coat.
Essex Police Bodycam footage showed the disheveled sick man dressed in a gray tracksuit surrounded by a swarm of police as they stormed his flat.
The stunned killer seemed to wonder why he was being led away, with a dazed look on his face.
Police then swept up the blood spatter, revealing Clarke’s grim secrets.
They discovered power tools and items used to dump the victim’s remains at several different locations in Harlow.
Police initially launched their murder investigation afterward a dog walker saw something suspicious at Oakwood Pond on New Year’s Eve 2022.
Specialist teams went on to make gruesome finds and further human remains at various locations, including other Harlow ponds.
Phillip, affectionately known as Scottish Phil, was later identified and forensics suggested the beloved father had been murdered on November 12.
Superintendent Rob Kirby explained Essex Live: “The way Lee Clarke disposed of Phil’s body was callous and inhumane.
“He thought he could get away with murder.”
Clarke became a suspect and was arrested four days later on January 4.
The sick killer was put on trial, claiming that Phillip’s blood was in his flat because he had cut himself while cleaning up a broken mirror.
A jury unanimously found him guilty of murder on Friday, March 8.
He is due to appear before a judge at Chelmsford Crown Court on March 12 for sentencing.
Chief Inspector Rob Kirby said: “This trial has proven Lee Clarke to be a murderer and a coward. Despite being arrested more than a year ago, Clarke has refused to tell anyone why he killed Phil.
“He has also refused to reveal where he disposed of the rest of Phil’s body, which has contributed to the suffering caused to Phil’s family.
“This was a huge investigation for Essex Police and it would not have been possible without the support of the Harlow community.
“The residents of Harlow were patient and compassionate while our officers investigated. I can say with confidence that this outcome would not have been possible without the support of Harlow, who stood by our hardworking officers.”
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