Murderer guilty of killing partner and trying to hide body with grass cuttings
Kerry Owen's body was found in Worcestershire after Alan Edney tried to hide it
A man has been jailed for 20 years after he was found guilty of murdering his partner and trying to hide her body with grass cuttings.
A jury found Alan Edney guilty of killing Kerry Owen and dumping her body on the outskirts of Birmingham.
During the four-week trial at Worcester Crown Court, the jury was told a dogwalker found a pool of Ms Owen’s blood in Wast Hills Lane in Hopwood, Worcestershire, on 27th May 2022.
Her body was then found nearby.
Edney has now been jailed for life, with a minimum term of 20 years before the parole board can consider him for release.
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.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Gerry Smith, led the murder investigation.
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.”