BOLTON MAN JAILED FOR LIFE AFTER MURDERING WOMAN AND HIDING HER IN SHED
A man who murdered a woman and subsequently dragged her body into his shed has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 20 years to serve.Christopher Barlow, aged 62, was convicted of killing Mariann Borocz at his home in Bolton.
Following an extensive police investigation, her remains were discovered in his shed nine days after her disappearance, after he removed her clothing and disposed of her belongings.
Ms Borocz, 55, originally from Hungary, was described as a vulnerable woman who spoke little English.
The police identified her following a thorough missing persons investigation.
A pathologist's report indicated no signs of injury besides a red mark on her neck, and it is believed she likely died from suffocation.
Barlow claimed he had never met Ms Borocz, although a nearby shop owner reported seeing them walking together a few times.
She had left her home after 9 am on December 14 last year and walked to a local store where Barlow was already present.
CCTV footage showed them walking toward Barlow's house.
Inside, what transpired remains unknown.
The judge noted there might have been a sexual motive or that Barlow 'lost his temper,' stating, "What is clear on the evidence is the dreadful way you then treated Mariann Borocz's body." Barlow's account of events was rejected by the jury.
He said he had let her inside for company, that she stayed in the kitchen, and he sat drinking beer while listening to music.
Barlow admitted to panicking, claiming he did not call emergency services, and later he dragged her into the garden shed, disposing of her clothes and possessions in a neighbor's bin.
Despite this, he maintained he was not responsible for her death, stating, "My intention was to report it as soon as I got round to it, as soon as possible.
I didn't intend to leave her there.
My intention was to report it but I was just panicking." Judge Potter criticized Barlow's actions, highlighting that he viciously attacked Ms Borocz and went to great lengths to conceal his crime.
Barlow was found guilty of murder after a three-week trial.
CPS North West's Specialist Prosecutor Rebecca Macaulay-Addison stated, "Christopher Barlow killed Mariann Borocz and stripped her of her clothes, before callously disposing of her body in his shed." She added that Barlow lied to friends and authorities to cover up his involvement and showed no remorse.
The court sentenced him to life with a minimum term of 20 years.
The prosecution expressed hope that the conviction offers some justice for Ms Borocz, and her family is still grieving the loss.
