Scott Paterson Pleads Guilty to Landlady's Murder

Scott Paterson, 45, pleaded guilty to the murder of his 74-year-old landlady, Annette Smith, at Luton Crown Court. Paterson killed Smith in their shared home in Stotfold in November 2022, dismembered her body, and concealed her remains in a storage unit. To mislead her family and friends, he sent Christmas messages and digital cards from her email, falsely claiming she was still alive. The investigation began in April 2023 after relatives raised concerns about her disappearance, leading police to discover her belongings at the home and ultimately uncover her remains. Detective Chief Inspector Katie Dounias described Paterson's actions as cold and calculated, expressing hope that the legal proceedings would bring some comfort to Smith's loved ones. Paterson is set to be sentenced next month.