Man jailed for life following the murder of Clare Burns

A man from Harpurhey has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years 363 days today (Friday 10 October 2025) for the murder of his partner at the time, Clare Marie Burns, in his home.

Leonard Lee Stewart (55), of Queens Road, murdered Clare on 7 April in the early hours of the morning. He was not witnessed performing CPR or trying to come to Clare’s assistance and was swiftly arrested by officers, as a murder investigation was launched.

Clare’s family have been supported throughout the investigation and paid tribute to her earlier this year:

“Clare was a loving mother, auntie, sister and daughter. 

“She was funny, outgoing and a very independent person. She was also kind, generous and friendly to anyone she met. 

“Clare would always light up the room she entered, and she was a brilliant friend to many.”

We had previously attended the home a month prior, after a report that Mr Stewart had spat at Clare. Here Clare made an initial disclosure that she had been subject to abuse at the hands of Leonard, known to most as Lee, Stewart, but felt unable to provide a full account to officers.

In relation to this previous incident, we referred ourselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and await the conclusion of their investigation.

Lee Stewart pleaded guilty to Clare’s murder at Manchester Crown Court on 24th September.

Detective Inspector Emma Hulston, of our Major Incident Team and Senior Investigating Officer for Clare’s murder said: “Firstly, our hearts go out to Clare’s family, who had her ripped away from them. They have been incredibly strong in the wake of tragedy, and I am pleased that they have not had to endure a lengthy trial, compounding their pain further.

“Now this case has come to its conclusion, I hope the sentence passed today serves as closure to all those who loved her.

“The actions of Lee Stewart were nothing short of cruel and despicable, and he must now spend the rest of his life in prison with that.”

Clare’s story is an example of violence disproportionately experienced by women and girls in our society, which we are committed to tackling.

We would encourage anyone suffering from domestic abuse of any form, whether that be physical violence or otherwise, to come forward to us.

Those concerned about their partners or ex-partners can also make sure of the Clare’s Law (Domestic Violence Disclosure) scheme, which enables us to release information about any previous history of violence or abuse a person might have.

Report and support

We encourage any victim of domestic abuse to come forward to us, by calling 101, reporting on our website, or using our Live Chat service. Always call 999 in an emergency.

Whether you choose to report to police, or not, please know that support is out there. You can contact the below local support organisations who will help you.

Greater Manchester domestic abuse helpline Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, except bank holidays. For anyone experiencing domestic abuse. Includes a language service and advice for the LGBT community.

End the Fear Includes information on local help all over Greater Manchester.