LISTEN to the chilling moment a murderer’s sister lies to police after a 50-year-old woman was killed.
Karen Youdell, a mum-of-four, died from injuries inflicted in the garden of Dean Johnstone’s house in Newton Heath in July 2023.
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The pair had previously been in a relationship, although at the time of the attack he was in a relationship with a woman called Helen Drinkwater.
Mr Johnson, 44, was today jailed for life for Karen’s death after she spent nearly a year in a coma before succumbing to her injuries.
She had suffered a bleed on the brain, broken ribs, bruising to her stomach, a fractured jaw and multiple lacerations to her body and chest.
After being treated on the scene and taken to hospital she never recovered and eventually died from her injuries in May 2024.
Mr Johnstone confessed to her murder at Manchester Crown Court in April of this year after handing himself in to police custody in August 2023, despite initially attempting to evade capture.
Also sentenced were Lisa Johnstone, Yvonne Johnstone and Glen Nelson – who all pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.
Lisa and Glen were jailed for 40 months, while Yvonne received a 27-month sentence.
Judge Alan Conrad KC said: “The behaviour of all four of you, in your different ways, was callous and cruel in the extreme.”
Audio footage reveals the terrifying 999 phone call where Lisa tries to cover up her brother’s crime.
In the call Lisa can be heard saying: “We’ve just come back and found her.”
When asked if Karen is awake, Lisa says: “No she’s not awake, we can’t wake her… we didn’t know she was here.
“Looks like she’s been battered to a pulp.”
The 999 responder than asks her to explain what happened, to which Lisa says: “We haven’t got a clue.”
At this point, Lisa says that Karen is still breathing, although heavily.
Police bodycam footage of Yvonne and Lisa Johnstone shows the pair doubling down on their claim that they have just “found her like that”.
However, video footage of Dean shows him clearly admitting to the attack as he admits to having injuries on his hands, saying: “I ain’t lying, I’ve done it”.
In reality, a witness had seen Dean assaulting Karen in the garden, probably with a weapon – suspected to be a wooden broom handle found broken at the scene.
Helen Drinkwater had also seen Dean violently jumping on Karen’s head and torso before panicking that he’d spat on her face and saying she needed to be bleached.
After Helen refused to go on the run with him, Dean strangled her before leaving her.
Dean then called Lisa and her partner Nelson who arrived at the scene.
At some point, Karen’s body was moved inside, before being brought back to the garden to stage a scene that looked like an accident in which she had been drinking and fallen over.
Lisa drove her partner to work at 7am and returned with their other sister Yvonne before calling an ambulance at 9am.
Helen also returned to the scene at around 9am, seeing that the house had been cleaned with bleach.
Bodycam footage captured Lisa and Yvonne lying to Greater Manchester Police officers about the cause of Karen’s injuries.
Following the sentencing Detective Chief Inspector Michelle Buchanan 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.”
Karen was described by her family as a “vibrant woman” who “could light up a room”.
Her daughter’s 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.”
