A man has admitted murdering his estranged wife by wrapping a bootlace around her neck and strangling her at her home.
Michael McDaid, 60, killed Rachel McDaid, 53, at the property in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, on 19 April this year.
McDaid left after the murder. A few minutes later, he returned to find one of their three sons trying to enter the house.
The father told him: “You can’t go in the house because I’ve killed her.”
Mrs McDaid’s body was discovered by her son soon after, with his father driving away in his van and calling the police to tell them his wife was dead and that he was responsible.
A boot with its laces missing was found on a narrow boat McDaid was living on, officers added..
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McDaid, of Aston-on-Trent, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to murder during an appearance at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday.
He is due to be sentenced next Friday.
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Detective Chief Inspector Clare Dean, of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: “Michael McDaid’s actions that day destroyed the lives of the family members he was supposed to care about the most.
“I cannot even begin to comprehend the pain Rachel’s loved ones were put through and what they will no doubt still feel today because of his despicable decision to murder his former partner.
“Michael McDaid admitting what he did in court means the family will thankfully not now have to relive all the details of the ordeal, which I hope provides them with some small degree of comfort.”