Walter Buchanan, a 66-year-old Scottish man, has been convicted of murdering his 37-year-old Kenyan wife, Darrel.
A Scottish man has been convicted of murdering his Kenyan wife following a domestic dispute over alleged infidelity.
Walter Buchanan, 66, attacked Darrel Buchanan, 37, at their upmarket flat near Hamilton racecourse on February 18, 2023.
He is accused of violently strangling her to death after she had previously accused him of being a "cheating wife".
An autopsy found she had suffered "significant" compression of her neck, as well as a brain injury, contusions and a broken rib.
Throughout the trial, Mr Buchanan maintained his innocence, claiming that his actions were an act of self-defence. However, the jury returned a guilty verdict after considering extensive evidence of the abuse suffered by the victim during her unstable marriage.
The High Court in Glasgow was told the couple met while on holiday in Thailand in 2015, and married two years later.
Ms Darrel had revealed her experiences of domestic abuse to neighbours John and Violet Fisher.
Ms Fisher, 82, said she told them Mr Buchanan had taken her passport and subjected her to physical violence behind closed doors.
According to the Police Scotland website, Detective Sergeant Ian Evans said: "There is no doubt that this is an extremely difficult and traumatic time for Darrell's family. They live every day without her and are devastated by what has happened. He is now being held accountable and I sincerely hope that Darrell's family will feel some sense of justice from today's court outcome.
"We remain committed to tackling domestic abuse at every level. I would encourage anyone who is suffering at the hands of an abuser to contact us, we will support you and do everything we can to ensure the perpetrator is held to account."
The jury heard how Mr Buchanan was "infatuated" with his wife.
He had been out with friends in Bothwell, Lanarkshire, the night before the murder.
Darrell was said to be unhappy and it was alleged that she claimed he was happier with others than with her.
He told the court he had received a text message which read: "I guess you are having fun in Bothwell without your wife, cheater".
He said she then accused him of infidelity again when he returned home. In his evidence, Mr Buchanan claimed she "lunged" at him before he "connected" with Darrell, grabbed her hair and they both fell before she was dragged across the floor.
Mr Buchanan said Mrs Darrell got up and left the room. He was then in bed when his wife came in.
He told his lawyer that she called him a "cheater" again. He grabbed her wrists, pushed her onto the bed and got on top of her.
"She was still flailing her arms. I defended myself with one arm and I remember putting my hand on her face and pushing her," he said.
He also admitted to pushing his wife into a pillow before she rolled onto her side.
Mr Buchanan was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.
