Walter Buchanan, a 66-year-old Scottish man, has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his 37-year-old Kenyan wife, Darrel Odhiambo.

The sentencing followed a trial that revealed a violent confrontation stemming from accusations of infidelity.

Buchanan, a chartered surveyor, was found guilty of murder in January 2024, after denying the charges.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Odhiambo suffered severe injuries, including a “significant” compression of her neck, brain injury, bruising, and a rib fracture, during an altercation at their flat near Hamilton racecourse in South Lanarkshire on February 18, 2023.

The trial revealed that Buchanan had been out the night before the incident and received a text from Odhiambo accusing him of cheating.

Upon his return, an argument escalated, leading to a physical struggle.

Buchanan admitted to grabbing Odhiambo’s wrists, pushing her onto the bed, climbing on top of her, and gripping her neck while pressing her face into a pillow.

At the sentencing hearing in Edinburgh, Judge Lord Cubie condemned Buchanan’s actions, highlighting the profound impact on Odhiambo’s family.

“She was younger than you, only 37, so you deprived her of many more years of life. You deprived your wife’s mother and sisters and the extended family of her society,” the judge stated.

The court also heard victim impact statements from Odhiambo’s family, detailing the emotional devastation caused by her murder.

Judge Cubie emphasized the lasting pain Buchanan’s actions inflicted, particularly on Odhiambo’s son, who was left motherless.

“Your actions have caused huge upset and upheaval for those left behind. It is baffling that you should behave as you did and commit a very serious crime,” Judge Cubie said.

“I have no doubt that you regretted what had happened and that you wish you could turn the clock back, but the jury found your actions at the time to be murderous. And it was revealing that in your evidence you described the events as a nightmare for you; you were concerned for the consequences for yourself.”

Buchanan will serve a minimum of 15 years in prison for the murder of Darrel Odhiambo.

The case has highlighted the tragic consequences of domestic violence and the devastating impact it has on families.