Mohammed Durnion, 42, was found guilty at Warwick Crown Court on Tuesday of the manslaughter of Reanne Coulson. The labourer strangled Coulson, a mother-of-two and sex worker known to take drugs, after she visited his flat in Coventry on May 21 last year.
Key Takeaways
Mohammed Durnion has been convicted of manslaughter in the death of Reanne Coulson. The 42-year-old labourer strangled Coulson and hid her body under a mattress before burying it in Binley Woods.
- Mohammed Durnion found guilty of manslaughter, cleared of murder
- Reanne Coulson's body discovered five weeks after initial police search
- Adam Moore convicted of assisting an offender
- Post-mortem revealed head and neck injuries, burns from petrol
According to multiple reports, Durnion faked a mental health crisis when police arrived at his flat minutes after the killing, claiming his father had cancer. Officers initially searched the property but failed to find Coulson's body, which was hidden under a mattress. Weeks later, Durnion led police to where he had buried her body in Binley Woods.
Detective Inspector Nigel Box of West Midlands Police stated that Durnion obstructed officers during the initial search and lied about his actions. A neighbour alerted police to screams coming from Durnion's flat, but he denied entry and claimed the noises were his own. After officers left, Durnion retrieved Coulson's body, placed it in a suitcase, and with the help of friend Adam Moore, buried her in woodland.
Prosecutors alleged that Durnion killed Coulson in a deliberate attack and feigned mental distress to evade suspicion. The jury deliberated for over 10 hours before finding him guilty by an 11-1 majority verdict. Moore was also convicted of assisting an offender. Both defendants are due to be sentenced on Thursday.
A post-mortem examination revealed head and neck injuries inflicted while Coulson was alive, as well as burns from petrol used in an attempt to destroy her body. The cause of death remained unascertained. West Midlands Police expressed regret over not finding Coulson's body during the initial search but stated no misconduct was identified.
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