A CHARTERED surveyor who murdered his wife and described the crime as being a “nightmare” for him has been jailed for life.
Walter Buchanan, 66, was told he’d serve a minimum of 15 years today for killing his wife Darrel, 37, after she accused him of cheating.
Walter Buchanan was found guilty of murdering his wife in their Hamilton flat[/caption]
Darrel Buchanan was killed on February 18, 2023[/caption]
She suffered compression of her neck, a brain injury and a rib fracture[/caption]
The pensioner attacked Mrs Buchanan at their flat near Hamilton racecourse in South Lanarkshire on February 18, 2023.
A jury heard how she suffered a “significant” compression of her neck as well as a brain injury, bruising and a rib fracture.
Buchanan denied murdering his wife. But a jury convicted him of murder following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Today, the case called again for sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh where Judge Lord Cubie imposed a life sentence on Buchanan.
Imposing a punishment part of 15 years, Lord Cubie told Buchanan of the pain that he caused to Mrs Buchanan’s family.
He added: “I have read from victim impact statements of the loss and suffering that you have left her relatives with. You have caused huge upset and upheaval.
You have caused huge upset and upheaval. There is nothing that I can say or do that can deal with their loss
Lord Cubie
“There is nothing that I can say or do that can deal with their loss.
“You describe the events of that evening as being a nightmare for you. I have taken everything that has been said on your behalf into account.
“The punishment part of the sentence will be fixed at 15 years.”
At earlier proceedings, the court heard how the couple had met in 2015 while Buchanan was on holiday in Thailand. They married two years later.
Jurors heard how Buchanan was “besotted” with his wife, who was from Kenya.
Buchanan was already a dad of two, while his wife had a young son.
He had been out with friends in Bothwell, South Lanarkshire, the night before the killing.
Ms Buchanan was said to have been unhappy, and wondered if her husband was happier with other women.
He is extremely anxious… He knows that if it were not for his actions she would not have died
Iain McSporran KC
Buchanan told the trial he got a text which read: “I guess you are having fun in Bothwell without your wife, cheater”.
He said she then again accused him of infidelity when he got home.
In his evidence, Buchanan claimed she “lunged” at him before he “connected” with her, grabbed her hair and they both fell.
She was then dragged across the floor.
Buchanan said his wife got up and left the room. He was then in bed when Ms Buchanan came in.
‘I had her by the neck’
He told his lawyer Iain McSporran KC she called him “a cheater” once more.
He grabbed her wrists, pushed her onto the bed and got on top of her.
Buchanan added: “She was still flailing her arms – I was defending myself with one arm and I remember putting my hand on her face and pushed her.”
Mr McSporran put to him: “We know there were marks identified on her neck which identifies strangulation – the prosecution say there was strangulation.
“There was a thumb mark and bruises – did you cause them?”
Buchanan: “Yes I did, I had her by the neck – it was seconds – and it was with one hand.”
I had her by the neck – it was seconds – and it was with one hand
Walter Buchanan
He further admitted pushing his wife into a pillow before she rolled over onto her side.
It was Buchanan who made a 999 call that morning claiming he had woken up and found his wife “cold to the touch”.
Emergency services arrived, but could not save her.
The court heard she had suffered “significant” compression of her neck.
Today, defence solicitor advocate Iain McSporran KC told the court that his client had been a law-abiding member of society before the murder.
He added: “He has been a fully productive member of the community and has been a hard-working man.
“He is extremely anxious and wants to avoid attributing any blame. He knows that if it were not for his actions she would not have died.”
Lord Cubie then passed sentence.
Buchanan called 999 in the morning claiming he woke up and Darrel was “cold to the touch”[/caption]
