Bolton strangler jailed for 24 years
A Bolton man's found guilty of murdering Darren McMinn and dumping his body in a watery grave
A Bolton man who brutally killed a man and dumped his body in a reservoir to conceal his crime has been jailed.
37-year-old Candido Pereira, of Chorley New Road, was sentenced to 24 years for murder at Manchester Crown Court.
Nicholas Hindle of Crosby Road, Bolton, was also sentenced to four years for assisting an offender.
Darren McMinn who was 48 years-old was last seen by relatives at an address in the Halliwell area of Bolton at around 11:30am on Monday 11 April 2016 and was reported missing by concerned family members four days later.
On the night he went missing, Darren had visited Pereira when a fight broke out during which Pereira stabbed him and strangled him to death.
Pereira later wrapped Darren’s body in plastic bags and, joined by Hindle, carried him out to his car before the both of them drove to Yarrow reservoir to dispose of the body.
Following an extensive police investigation Pereira was arrested and following three days of questioning he admitted being present when Darren died.
He then directed officers to Alance Bridge, on Hodge Brow, over the Yarrow Reservoir, in Rivington, Lancashire.
On 3 May 2016, officers from the Northwest Police Underwater Search and Marine Unit recovered Darren’s body from the reservoir.
Darren was wrapped in plastic and tied with string. His body was heavily weighted down to stop him from resurfacing.
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Jones, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “This sentence brings to a close a prolonged investigation which started with Darren’s disappearance and then tragically became a murder enquiry.
“Pereira brutally murdered Darren McMinn by inflicting multiple injuries. He attempted to cover up his crimes and evade justice by disposing of his body in a reservoir, with no thought for a family desperate to know what had happened to their loved one.
“While I know that Darren’s family will never truly recover from their loss, I hope that this sentence can at least help bring them some closure.
“I want to pay tribute to his family, who have shown strength and dignity throughout both the investigation and the trial and I hope now they can begin to move forward with their lives.
“I also want to thank the witnesses and the team of officers and staff who have helped us to secure this conviction today.” PL