A SCOT killed his estranged wife during an argument before dumping her body under builder’s rubble, where the remains lay undiscovered for more than 12 years, a court has heard.

Natalia Wilkanowska, 50, disappeared in 2003 after visiting Gerald Doherty at his then home in Luton from her home Eastbourne.

Her children believed she was missing but, after the death of another relative, Mr Doherty’s older brother Joseph revealed to family members she had been killed by her husband. It was alleged that Gerald Doherty, who committed suicide after returning to Scotland to live in Port Glasgow, chopped up her body.

But Luton Crown Court was told Ms Wilkanowska had not been chopped up, her body was left under rubble in the garden of another brother, Daniel Doherty, in Icknield Way, Luton, in December 2015.

Her remains had never been buried. She had suffered trauma to the skull, according to a pathologist.

Prosecutor Neil King said Gerald Doherty, who died in July 2003 on the couple’s wedding anniversary, was responsible for Ms Wilkanowska’s death.

The couple had married in 1978, but separated in September 2001.

His two elderly brothers, who both wore hearing loops in the dock, face a total seven charges.

Daniel Doherty, 67, who lives in the property in Icknield Way, Luton, denies two charges of perverting the course of justice and two charges of obstructing the coroner, by aiding and abetting the concealment of the body and by lying to the police.

Joseph Doherty, 73, of Old Greenock Road, Port Glasgow, denies perverting the course of justice and obstructing the coroner by giving a false account of her death. Both men deny preventing lawful burial of a person.

Mr King said: “In April 2003 Natalia Wilkanowska was taken by her ex-husband Gerald in a car to Luton. There was no evidence of her being seen alive again.”

He said Gerald Docherty died months after being released from psychiatric care in Scotland.

He told the jury of eight men and four women that the couple’s children believed their mother was missing. But following death of another member of the family in early 2014, the older brother Joseph shockingly revealed that Gerald Doherty had killed Natalia.

He said: “Joseph Doherty said Gerald Doherty had killed Natalia and chopped her up in circumstances that she would never be found. He repeated the comments in front of family members, one of whom was a police officer.

“Following the remarks, police became involved in January 2014 and took statements. Joseph Doherty repeated the same tale that Gerald had killed his wife and chopped her up. Daniel said he knew nothing about it.”

The trial continues.