Watch killer’s frank confession of landlady murder

A man who confessed to murdering his 74-year-old landlady before hiding her remains in a storage locker told police he thought he "would get away with it if there was no body".

Scott Paterson, 45, was a long-term lodger at Annette Smith’s home in Fairfield, Bedfordshire.

He began caring for her while she recovered from a stroke, but also stole her belongings and sold them online for more than £5,000.

He was jailed for at least 20 years as part of a life sentence after admitting suffocating Ms Smith with a pillow on 8 November last year and then dismembering her body.

Paterson posed as Annette by sending Christmas emails and cards to her family and friends, to try to cover up her murder.

After initially hiding her body under the stairs, he moved it in a suitcase to a storage facility in neighbouring Letchworth Garden City.

Det Ch Insp Katie Dounias, who led the investigation, said: "While in a position of trust, Paterson cruelly took advantage of Annette’s vulnerabilities which culminated in him not only ending her life, but taking abhorrent and deceptive steps to conceal his crimes.

"This was compounded by his efforts to make a financial gain by selling Annette’s belongings."

A tribute paid by Annette’s family read: "We are totally heartbroken and devastated that Annette has been taken away from us in such a cruel and senseless way.

"She was a beautiful, caring, trusting and generous lady, who meant so much to so many people.

"Annette, rest in peace with those who will love and take care of you."

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