A Hamilton man faces trial for allegedly murdering his wife at their upscale home in February 2023
Hamilton: A man is in court, facing some serious charges. Walter Buchanan is accused of murdering his wife, Darrel, at their fancy flat near the racecourse back in February.
Prosecutors say he restrained her and hit her on the head multiple times. It’s pretty grim. They also claim he choked her and covered her mouth and nose. He appeared in the High Court in Glasgow, and the trial is expected to last about ten days.
At the start of the trial, the prosecutor shared a 999 call made by Buchanan. He reported finding his wife cold when he woke up. Paramedics rushed to the scene, but sadly, she was pronounced dead shortly after.
Buchanan was arrested a few days later at his sister’s place. During the call, he mentioned that Darrel had been drinking heavily and seemed upset the night before. He even tried to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
When paramedics arrived, they found no pulse. Buchanan told them he got home around 2 AM and that Darrel had been in and out of the bathroom. He also mentioned she had fallen into a plant pot earlier.
One paramedic noted that there was soil on the wall, which is a bit odd. The defense attorney asked if Buchanan helped as best he could, and the paramedic agreed he seemed in disbelief.
There were also some troubling allegations about Buchanan’s behavior over the years. He faces another charge under the Domestic Abuse Act, claiming he was racially abusive and controlling towards Darrel.
It’s a lot to unpack, and the trial is still ongoing. The judge, Lord Cubie, is overseeing everything, and it’ll be interesting to see how this unfolds.