A PENSIONER has been found guilty of killing a Scottish woman who went missing in Australia almost 20 years ago.
Ronald Pennington, 82, concealed the body of his friend Cariad Anderson-Slater in his garden for years while her family agonised over where she was.
The deceitful killer even comforted his victim's husband, David Slater, and helped him search for the 42-year-old in the days following her death.
Mrs Anderson-Slater, originally of Elgin, Moray, went missing in the early hours of July 13, 1992 – just two years after she moved to Australia with her husband and her son.
Her remains were uncovered in the back garden of Pennington's former home in Perth in February last year. There was no indication as to how she died.
Pennington was on trial for murder at the West Australian Supreme Court, but jurors yesterday found him guilty of the reduced charge of manslaughter. The court heard that Mrs Anderson-Slater and Mr Slater, originally from England, were friendly with Pennington and visited his home for dinner the night before she disappeared.
However, the couple argued over the British monarchy and when they returned home Mrs Anderson-Slater started to drink. Mr Slater told the court his wife was an alcoholic and would disappear on binges for days at a time.
He claimed she went to a neighbour's house where she drank until 6.30am before calling a taxi to Pennington's house.
Prosecutors allege Pennington killed her some time after that.
It was not until three days later that Mr Slater reported her missing because he thought she had gone on another binge.
Following his wife's disappearance, Mr Slater said he spent time with Pennington, who helped him search for his wife around a lake.
He said: "Mr Pennington was the only person I really knew at that point. I asked his assistance to help me find Cariad.
"We went to some swampland. He helped me look for her around the reeds, around the lake."
State prosecutor Sean O'Sullivan told the court Pennington had claimed Mrs Anderson-Slater wished to have a sexual relationship with him, but he rejected her advances.
Mr O'Sullivan added: "It was a relationship that was causing Ronald Pennington trouble. It provided a reason for him to do what the State says he did."
During the trial, Pennington accused Mr Slater of murdering his wife and trying to frame him for the crime.
The killer's defence team said Mr Slater behaved suspiciously after the disappearance, cut up wedding pictures and changed his will. However, Mr Slater denied the claim and said: "I made rash decisions. I cut up our wedding photos. I felt abandoned, like the wedding was a sham."
He said he also changed his will so his two sons from a previous marriage would inherit all his assets because he was "feeling very depressed". He added that, in the time leading up to her disappearance, their marriage had been better than ever, with Mrs Anderson-Slater seeking help for her drinking problem.
Mr Slater described his wife, when sober, as "beautiful, very intelligent, vivacious and good company".
Outside the court, Ms Anderson-Slater's daughter Melanie MacEachen – who flew from Scotland to attend the trial – thanked everyone involved in solving the case. She said: "Mr Pennington may have killed and buried my mum, but the people of Perth have found her, convicted her killer, and brought her home to her family where she belongs."
Pennington is due to be sentenced today.
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