Latest news with #AnnetteSmith
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
I looked ‘Butcher of Suburbia' in the eye after he slaughtered landlady & chopped up body…how Moonpig card snared him
IT was a cold-hearted murder that shocked the sleepy village of Fairfield in Bedfordshire to its very core. A much-loved local pensioner, murdered, dismembered and callously discarded in public bins by the person she'd come to think of as family. 15 15 Annette Smith, 74, had lived with Scott Paterson, 45, for 11 years - she'd invited him to stay with her for free in 2012 in exchange for running errands and keeping her company, after he split from his ex and sold their home. Annette, who'd split from her husband 14 years previously, and Paterson had become best friends, even holidaying together, hosting dinner parties and occasionally sharing a bed. But when she had a stroke in 2018, callous Paterson grew tired of caring for her, and on November 8, 2023, he suffocated her with a pillow while she slept. Sickeningly Paterson - who had previously worked as a butcher - then dismembered her body using a saw and kitchen knife, before going to great lengths to cover his tracks. He was eventually snared when police tracked Moonpig cards he'd been sending while posing as Annette from the home they shared - despite telling her friends and family she'd gone away. The harrowing case is examined in the new series of 24 Hours in Police Custody, which features the chilling moment he finally confesses to his sinister crime. Speaking to The Sun, DCI Katie Dounias, who led the murder investigation, said there were alarmingly few red flags when police first interviewed Paterson in the wake of Annette's disappearance. "He came across as a very meek and mild person," she said, adding he had no previous convictions. "There was nothing that immediately rang alarm bells with him... nobody had a bad word to say about him or against him." She added: "They [Paterson and Annette] had a really good relationship by all accounts. They were best friends, which just makes it all the more harrowing, really, that he went on to do what he did." 15 15 15 In the show Annette's stepson, Jason, revealed his shock at her brutal murder at the hands of someone he thought loved her. Jason said: "I trusted him so much. He is a manipulative murderer and someone that knew what he was doing. "There is no forgiveness for what he has done and I hope he rots in prison." In the early years of living together Paterson and Annette "got on like a house on fire", with the latter coming to see her lodger "like a son". But following her stroke the dynamic changed and Paterson became her carer, as her mobility issues prevented her from doing basic domestic tasks. It was Paterson who reported Annette as a missing person, claiming he last saw her climb into a woman's car with a packed suitcase. He claimed she told him she'd be gone a few days, but he never saw her again. Moonpig card clue 15 Suspicions began to arise when family members realised that despite receiving emails, Moonpig cards and gifts from Annette, they hadn't seen her for several months. Police struggled to identify the woman described by Paterson as "white" and "plump-ish but not fat" who he claimed collected Annette, and there was no CCTV or witnesses to support his claim. Cracks started to show in his story; DCI Dounias said: "Speaking further with friends and family, it became evident that Annette was quite infirm… it just didn't tally with what Paterson was saying. "Friends and family started to raise concerns about whether she was capable of getting herself out of bed, packing a suitcase and leaving.' Detectives traced the IP address of emails and cards allegedly sent by Annette while she was 'away' to her address, and a search of the property revealed Annette's passport and clothing inside. Annette's neighbour Lois recalled how Paterson "really changed in his demeanour" when the missing person investigation ramped up. She said: "I saw him one day parked outside the tree which was Annette's space. He'd gone from being this flamboyant extrovert to trying to go unnoticed, if you like. "He'd put weight on, his hair was longer, he was drinking more, it was almost like there was two sides to him." On April 30, 2024, Paterson was arrested, and it didn't take long before he broke down under interrogation and confessed to the brutal killing. A chilling moment in the documentary shows the moment Paterson calmly told police how he killed Annette in a premeditated attack. Prior to killing Annette, Paterson took several weeks off work, claiming he needed an operation to remove a tumour. Instead he was plotting the sinister murder. Recalling the moment he placed a pillow over her face, Paterson said: "I was weirdly calm, had the TV on. I think because I'd been thinking about it for quite a few weeks it was just something that had played over in my mind. "So it was almost like I was ready when the time seemed right. "I went downstairs after Annette had fallen asleep and I put a pillow over her face until she stopped breathing and I left her in bed for the night." Chilling confession 15 15 The next morning Paterson moved Annette to the under stairs cupboard, where he left her for "quite some time". When asked by police where Annette is, Paterson chillingly replied: "There isn't a full body." Paterson told how after several weeks he took a knife and a hacksaw and removed Annette's feet, followed by her hands, admitting that was particularly strange because it was like "holding hands with Annette". Having worked in a butchers, Paterson claimed he had seen "the way they do it", along with inspiration from horror films. The only time the criminal became emotional was when he described decapitating Annette's head. Over several weeks Paterson chopped Annette into 10 pieces and discarded them in plastic bags in public bins around Letchworth. He then confessed that he crammed her torso into a suitcase and stashing it in his storage unit. He claimed living with her had "become difficult" after her stroke because she was constantly calling him for help. DCI Dounias recalled how he'd come "to the end of his tether", adding: "He describes her as being quite demanding and he'd just had enough. "Whether that is the full truth, I can't really say, and it may be something that we never know. "I think what I would say is that he seems to be quite a complex character. There almost seems to be various different sides to him. "So it's difficult to know whether he was genuinely remorseful of what he did, or whether the remorse was because he was found out, or because of the relief. It's really difficult to read his reactions." It later emerged Paterson had been in £30,000 of credit card debt, and had stolen Annette's jewellery before selling it online for £5,000. This added to the hypothesis of a financial motive, according to DCI Dounias. Sinister pause When asked by police if he had killed before, Paterson paused - something that "concerned" DCI Dounias. "We did pick up on that pause... it was a little bit of a surprise and a concern, shall we say," she said. "So we did make some inquiries into whether there could have been any previous history... but we didn't uncover anything that we could certainly offer any proof for." Paterson was sentenced to a minimum term of 20 years' imprisonment on November 4, 2024. At sentencing Judge Justice Murray said: 'You had been contemplating killing Annette Smith before you had finally killed her. 'This shows you had been thinking about and planning her death for some time. After you killed Annette Smith, you told elaborate lies.' Despite an extensive search, Annette's entire body was never found. DCI Dounias admitted she was "pleased" with the sentence, adding: "For him to receive 20 years, even though he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, I think is quite telling of the magnitude of what he did to Annette." 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Butcher of Suburbia airs Monday 30 June on Channel 4 at 9pm. 15 15 15
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'I'd never heard of the Glastonbury Festival'
A woman who moved to the village neighbouring the Glastonbury Festival having never heard of the event said she was "blown away" by Smith moved to Pilton from Ireland with no knowledge of the said music festivals were not her scene, "with the alcohol and everything"."I used to walk my dog on the land every day, and then this festival turned up. I didn't have any clue, I never saw it before on television or anything," she said. "When I went down there the first time, I was blown away."Ms Smith said she "adores" Pilton and its residents."We're a tight community, everyone knows what you've had for breakfast. We won't be eaten by wolves because we look after each other," she said."Until you're in the festival, you don't understand how vastly big this is. The first year I was covered in blisters because all I did for the first one was walk around."My thing is to go and people watch. People leave the norm behind and just want to relax and enjoy fun. We need more of these environments, the way the world is right now."I think the music is only a small part of the Glastonbury experience." Fellow Pilton residents, Colin and Mel Lewis, moved to the village two years ago, on the week the festival was being Lewis was born in Somerset and decided to move back after retirement."We were quite prepared for it," he said. "We knew about it, we didn't know the extent of it. Until you see it and see how big it is."We like music, but just the idea of the crowds. We have nothing against it, it's good for the village."We fell asleep to Guns and Roses, because it was so hot that week we had the bedroom window open.""Once we got over the festival, it was nice and peaceful," he added.
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
Who is Scott Paterson and how did he murder his landlady Annette Smith?
SCOTT Paterson murdered and dismembered his landlady in the home they shared before hiding her remains in a storage unit for months on end. The callous killer went to great lengths to hide his crime, even sending Christmas cards to her family to put them off the scent. 3 3 Who is Scott Paterson? Scott Paterson, 45, was a tenant living with his 74-year-old landlady, Annette Smith, in Fairfield Park near Stotfold, Bedfordshire. They had known each other for many years and, after Annette suffered a stroke, he took on the role of her carer. However, on November 8, 2023, Paterson suffocated Annette with a pillow while she was sleeping. He later said the pressures of caregiving had caused him to "snap". Concealing the crime Following the murder, Paterson went to great lengths to conceal his crime. He dismembered Annette's body using a saw and kitchen knife — he previously worked as a butcher. Paterson initially hid her remains under the stairs, before moving them to a storage unit in Letchworth, Hertfordshire — about three miles from their home. To mask her disappearance, Paterson hacked into Annette's email account and sent Christmas cards and emails to her friends and family, pretending she was still alive. Suspicious relatives This deception lasted for months — until relatives grew suspicious and alerted the police. When first questioned by police, he falsely claimed that Annette had left the house voluntarily with an unknown woman. However, investigators found her passport, clothing, mobile phone and laptop still at the home, and there had been no activity on her bank account, all of which contradicted his story. Detectives found CCTV footage and records proving Paterson also stole Annette's jewellery and other belongings, which he sold for more than £5,000. Confession On April 30, 2024, Paterson was arrested and confessed to the murder shortly afterwards, before leading police to the storage unit where he concealed the dismembered body. Speaking after Paterson's guilty plea, Detective Chief Inspector Katie Dounias of Bedfordshire Police said: 'Annette's death is tragic and deeply saddening. Our thoughts remain with her loved ones. "Paterson's actions to conceal his horrific crime and later mislead Annette's family and friends with a false sense of assurance, reveals the nature of a very cold and calculated individual who has no place in our community. "Uncovering Annette's death has required the finest level of police work, and I would like to commend the Major Crime Unit and supporting teams on their meticulous efforts over the last five months. "Our hope is that this swift progression towards justice, provides some level of comfort to those affected by Annette's death." 3 During sentencing at Luton Crown Court on November 4, 2024, Judge Justice Murray described Paterson's actions as 'awful' and 'callous'. He added: "You told her friends and family an elaborate lie. "Because of your lies, the police concluded there was no evidence at that time to say she was genuinely missing." In a victim impact statement, Annette's stepson Jason Smith said his stepmother "was very vulnerable due to her mobility issues." He added: "I considered Annette as my mother and I loved her dearly. "She was one of the kindest and most caring people; I can't understand why anyone would want to harm her. "I have to try very hard not to think about what he did to her. "He seemed a nice friendly guy, but he was a murderer. I'll never forgive him." Paterson was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years. 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Butcher of Suburbia C4's true crime series 24 Hours in Police Custody is returning with the sickening story of the murder of Annette Smith titled The Butcher of Suburbia. It traces Paterson's macabre efforts to conceal her death, plus the inside story of how he was caught. The documentary airs on Channel 4 on Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 9 pm.
Miami Herald
20-06-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
‘I was stunned.' 9 lottery players try their luck — and win big prizes
National 'I was stunned.' 9 lottery players try their luck — and win big prizes Annette Smith turned a routine coffee stop into a $50,000 Pick 5 win by playing her favorite birthday numbers. A grandpa in Bel Air had to double-check his $8 Powerball ticket before believing he scored $50,000. Meanwhile, a Washington casino guest took a different gamble, buying a Lotto ticket and winning a massive $1.3 million jackpot. Read the stories below. A lottery player hit the jackpot on a game bought at the Muckleshoot Casino Resort in Auburn, Washington. Getty Images/iStockphoto NO. 1: CASINO PLAYER WINS $1.3 MILLION JACKPOT IN WASHINGTON — BUT NOT THE WAY YOU THINK The lucky lottery player has 180 days to claim their prize. | Published June 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Helena Wegner Lottery file photo By TIM DOMINICK NO. 2: SC MAN DIDN'T BELIEVE HE WON LOTTERY GAME'S GRAND PRIZE UNTIL THE CHECK WAS IN HIS HANDS The odds of winning the six-figure jackpot were 1-in-960,000. | Published July 3, 2024 | Read Full Story by Noah Feit A man won big and is closer to buying a home thanks to a lucky lottery ticket in Maryland. Photo by Sandy Millar via Unsplash NO. 3: MAN DREAMING OF BUYING A HOME WINS BIG LOTTERY PRIZE IN MARYLAND. 'I WAS STUNNED' 'The happy man has been working toward buying a house and reports that the prize will help him with his goal.' | Published July 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brooke Baitinger North Carolina lottery players won prizes ranging from $100,000 to $390,000. N.C. Education Lottery NO. 4: $390,000 LOTTERY PRIZE AMONG SEVERAL BIG WINS ACROSS NC. WHERE WERE THE TICKETS SOLD? Here's what to know about the state's lucky weekend. | Published July 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Simone Jasper A Georgia lottery player just missed the Powerball jackpot, but still won a sizable prize, officials said. Jerry Habraken USA TODAY NETWORK NO. 5: POWERBALL PLAYER WINS BIG IN GEORGIA, OFFICIALS SAY. WHERE WAS THE LUCKY TICKET SOLD? Check your tickets! | Published July 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney A grandpa won big after buying an $8 lottery ticket, Maryland officials said. Getty Images/iStockphoto NO. 6: GRANDPA PLAYED LOTTERY FOR 'YEARS AND YEARS' IN MARYLAND. THEN HE LANDED BIG WIN The man was 'unsure' and needed confirmation when he first learned of the win, officials said. | Published July 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Paloma Chavez The woman won big on a Pick 5 ticket, which she bought during a coffee stop, using her birthday numbers, Maryland Lottery officials said. Photo from Maryland Lottery NO. 7: LOTTERY PLAYER'S BIG MARYLAND WIN LEAVES HER 'SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS' 'I never imagined winning such a big prize.' | Published July 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniella Segura Dedicated lottery player celebrates biggest win in over 15 years, Maryland officials said. Getty Images/iStockphoto NO. 8: LOTTERY PLAYER HAD 'SOME LUCK' OVER 15 YEARS, BUT 'NOTHING LIKE' LATEST MARYLAND PRIZE The winner was so 'stunned' at the site of the number she scanned the ticket several times to confirm, officials said. | Published March 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brooke Baitinger A Missouri woman considered the number 23 unlucky until she passed on a winning lottery ticket with that number to her husband. GETTY IMAGES NO. 9: WIFE SAW 'UNLUCKY' NUMBER ON LOTTERY TICKET AND GAVE IT TO HUSBAND — BUT THEY WON BIG 'What I've learned is that there is no unlucky number!' the Missouri woman said. | Published March 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rhiannon Saegert The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Techday NZ
29-05-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Sysdoc wins two awards for supporting NZ Defence Force change
Sysdoc has been recognised for its work supporting transformation within the New Zealand Defence Force by receiving two awards at the 2024 Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence to Industry. The consultancy received the Sub-contractor/SME of the Year for Service honour, as well as the Kotahitanga (Unity) Award, the latter presented to team member Annette Smith. Sysdoc has contributed to NZDF's ongoing transformation through efforts focused on simplifying workflows for Defence personnel, modernising learning materials, enhancing organisational capability, and improving workforce engagement. The awards distinguish the consultancy's involvement in helping Defence staff operate effectively in complex, high-trust environments. Desiree Botica, Chief Executive Officer of Sysdoc, commented on the significance of the recognition, stating, "This recognition reflects the strength of our partnership with NZDF and the dedication of our people to delivering meaningful, people-focused change. As a New Zealand business, we're proud to support the Defence Force and other organisations across Aotearoa in building capability, resilience, and innovation." The Kotahitanga Award, presented to Annette Smith, acknowledges her contributions towards promoting collaboration and unity among teams throughout transformational projects. Sysdoc emphasised that these values are central to its working methodology, prioritising partnership and inclusion. The award was presented in the presence of representatives from the Royal New Zealand Navy. Sysdoc also credited Business Development Manager Leila Massey for her leadership in building robust relationships with the Defence sector. Massey's work involved delivering practical, budget-conscious solutions and supporting project sponsors in executing their vision in partnership with the Sysdoc team. The consultancy maintains teams based in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Australia. This footprint allows Sysdoc to bring an international perspective to Defence-related projects, providing solutions designed for high-trust and mission-critical environments. According to the consultancy, its New Zealand heritage informs its approach, anchoring its work in local values and responsive client engagement. Sysdoc's work with the NZDF has placed particular emphasis on embedding artificial intelligence and automation into operational procedures, designing scalable learning and change programmes, and supporting digital transformation with a focus on people. The organisation stated that it aims to develop tailored solutions by understanding the specific context, culture, and challenges faced by its clients. Sysdoc reported that it has nearly four decades of experience as a consultancy, combining sector expertise with AI technology to support organisational efficiency and cost effectiveness. Its services cover both public and private sector partners, delivering business transformation, learning programmes, and change management across multiple regions.
