Man guilty of murdering ex-partner

Vincent Morgan claimed Lisa Welford had jumped into the River Derwent herself

A man has been found guilty of murdering his ex-partner after she was found in the river with multiple injuries.

Vincent Morgan claimed Lisa Welford had jumped into the River Derwent in Malton, North Yorkshire, on 24 April.

But he was found guilty of her murder at Leeds Crown Court on Monday.

Morgan, 47, was subject to his third violence prevention order at the time of the murder and was on police bail under the condition he had no contact with Ms Welford.

The trial heard police were called to the scene at about 23:40 BST, where they found Ms Welford in the water and Morgan on the riverbank.

Ms Welford, 49, was taken to hospital where she was found to have suffered head injuries, a bleed on the brain, fractured ribs, a fractured collar bone and a severely fractured femur.

She died the following morning.

Her injuries and the low growing branches at the riverbank would have made it impossible for her to have jumped into the water, police said.

CCTV footage showed her walking unaided, without any sign of injury, towards the river earlier that evening.

Lisa Welford was described as a strong and caring woman by friends

Morgan, of Chandler's Wharf in Malton, was described as a violent and controlling man by a previous partner.

The court heard he had a "long history of physical abuse" against Ms Welford.

She was described as a "strong, caring woman" by her friends.

Det Ch Insp Shaun Page from North Yorkshire Police said the force welcomed the verdict.

"We work extremely hard to protect victims of domestic abuse from harm and pursue those responsible," he said.

The force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over the case.

Morgan was also found guilty of two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He will be sentenced on Wednesday.

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