Scott Paterson Sentenced for Landlady's Murder

Scott Paterson, 45, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 19 years for the murder and dismemberment of his 74-year-old landlady, Annette Smith, in November 2023. Paterson suffocated Smith with a pillow at their shared home in Bedfordshire, hid her remains in a storage unit, and used her email to send deceptive messages to maintain the illusion that she was alive. Concerns from her family led to a police investigation in April 2024, which uncovered her passport and clothing at the home. Paterson admitted to the crime and directed police to the storage unit where her remains were found. The court heard that Paterson, who had a close relationship with Smith, was initially offered rent-free accommodation following a personal crisis, and later became her caretaker after a stroke limited her mobility. Detective Chief Inspector Katie Dounias described Paterson's actions as 'cold and calculated', underlining the severity of his attempt to cover up the murder.