Man jailed for life for 'brutal' murder of woman in north Manchester

A man from Manchester has been jailed for life for the ‘brutal’ murder of woman who died after spending almost a year in a coma.

Karen Youdell, 50, died from the injuries inflicted by Dean Johnstone in the garden of his house on Rosebank Road, Newton Heath, in July 2023.

Her family has described her as a ‘vibrant woman’ who ‘could light up a room’.

Karen was found unconscious with horrendous injuries including a bleed on the brain, broken ribs, bruising to her stomach, a fractured jaw and multiple lacerations to her body and chest.

She was treated at the scene and in hospital but never recovered and died in May 2024.

Johnstone (22/05/1981), of no fixed abode, was originally charged with attempted murder but that was upgraded to murder, which he admitted at Manchester Crown Court in April this year.

He also pleaded guilty to non-fatal strangulation of Lois Drinkwater, his partner at the time, was sentenced to life in prison today at Manchester Crown Court and will serve a minimum of 17 years and six months.

Lisa Johnstone, (18/10/1979), of Scotland Hall Road, Manchester; Yvonne Johnstone, (16/08/1978), of Amos Street, Manchester; and Glen Nelson, (08/04/1984), of Scotland Hall Road, Manchester, all pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Lisa Johnstone and Glen Nelson were jailed for 40 months, while Yvonne Johnstone was sent to prison for 27 months.

A witness reported seeing Johnstone assaulting Karen in the garden – the investigation proved she was then moved inside before being taken back out again.

Marks on Karen’s body indicated she was hit with a weapon, possibly a wooden broom handle that was found broken at the scene.

After the attack in the early hours, Dean Johnstone called his sister Lisa, who lives nearby, and she arrived at the scene with her partner Nelson.

At some point, Karen’s body was carried back outside and a scene staged to make it look like an accident.

After Lisa took Nelson to work at about 7am, she picked up their other sister Yvonne before calling an ambulance at 9am.

When our officers arrived a short time later, they found Karen’s body outside, staged to look like she had been drinking and had fallen over.

In initial conversations with officers, Lisa and Yvonne lied to say they had found Karen slumped in the garden in an attempt to cover their tracks.

Dean Johnstone initially tried to evade arrest but handed himself into Central Park Police Station on 1 August 2023.

Detective Chief Inspector Michelle Buchanan, who led the investigation, said: “Our thoughts as an investigation team are still with Karen’s loved ones at what is a very emotional and difficult time for them.

“This was a brutal, violent attack where Dean Johnstone’s co-conspirators have repeatedly lied in a bid to cover up their crimes.

“Our investigation proved they were lying and they will now have time to reflect on their actions – hopefully we have been able to bring justice and some form of closure for the family.”

In a joint tribute, Karen's daughters Leanne and Olivia, said: "Karen could light up a room with her infectious smile, her giddy laugh, and her dancing.

"She was well liked by our community in Newton Heath and was always there for everyone. She was the kind of person who would give you her last £10 if you needed it.

"We had to lose our mum twice and our final memories are of her in a vegetative state—so far removed from the vibrant woman she once was.

"We are devastated by our loss. In losing Karen, we have lost a mum, a nana, an auntie, a daughter and a sister. Our family will never be the same and her absence will be felt forever."