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Man pleads guilty to Karen Buckley murder Man pleads guilty to Karen Buckley murder
(35 minutes later)
A man has admitted murdering the Irish student Karen Buckley, who disappeared after a night out in Glasgow in April.A man has admitted murdering the Irish student Karen Buckley, who disappeared after a night out in Glasgow in April.
Alexander Pacteau, 21, who repeatedly hit his victim on the head and body with a spanner, pleaded guilty when he appeared at the high court in the city on Tuesday.Alexander Pacteau, 21, who repeatedly hit his victim on the head and body with a spanner, pleaded guilty when he appeared at the high court in the city on Tuesday.
A major search was launched for the 24-year-oldfrom Cork when she was reported missing from the flat she shared with friends after failing to return home from a nightclub in Glasgow’s west end. Her body was found days later at a farm on the outskirts of the city.A major search was launched for the 24-year-oldfrom Cork when she was reported missing from the flat she shared with friends after failing to return home from a nightclub in Glasgow’s west end. Her body was found days later at a farm on the outskirts of the city.
The nurse, who was studying for a postgraduate qualification at Glasgow Caledonian University, was seen on CCTV leaving The Sanctuary nightclub in the early hours of Sunday 12 April and talking to a man as they walked along Dumbarton Road. The nurse, who was studying for a postgraduate qualification at Glasgow Caledonian University, was seen on CCTV leaving the Sanctuary nightclub in the early hours of Sunday 12 April and talking to a man as they walked along Dumbarton Road.
Detectives soon said they were treating her disappearance as a high-risk missing person inquiry and her parents flew over from Ireland.Detectives soon said they were treating her disappearance as a high-risk missing person inquiry and her parents flew over from Ireland.
By the Tuesday, police revealed they had spoken to the man seen talking to Ms Buckley outside the club. He had said she went with him to his flat a few miles away in Dorchester Avenue before leaving some hours later. Police also appealed for information about a grey car that was seen on the roads between Milngavie and Drymen on the Sunday.By the Tuesday, police revealed they had spoken to the man seen talking to Ms Buckley outside the club. He had said she went with him to his flat a few miles away in Dorchester Avenue before leaving some hours later. Police also appealed for information about a grey car that was seen on the roads between Milngavie and Drymen on the Sunday.
The student’s handbag had been found at a park near the man’s flat and the police hunt focused on the two sites in the north-west of the city.The student’s handbag had been found at a park near the man’s flat and the police hunt focused on the two sites in the north-west of the city.
The man was named in reports as Alexander Pacteau and the following day he was detained by police. A body was later found at High Craigton farm near Milngavie, ending the four-day police search.The man was named in reports as Alexander Pacteau and the following day he was detained by police. A body was later found at High Craigton farm near Milngavie, ending the four-day police search.
Pacteau was arrested and appeared in court on 17 April charged with murder.Pacteau was arrested and appeared in court on 17 April charged with murder.
On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to the charge, admitting attacking her in his car on 12 April by strangling her and repeatedly hitting her with a spanner.On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to the charge, admitting attacking her in his car on 12 April by strangling her and repeatedly hitting her with a spanner.
The court heard how the two met outside the club and he drove her in his car to nearby Kelvin Way. The car was parked on the street for 12 minutes, during which time Pacteau attacked and murdered her by grabbing her neck and delivering 12 or 13 blows with the spanner. The court was told Ms Buckley suffered some injuries to her arm as she tried to defend herself.The court heard how the two met outside the club and he drove her in his car to nearby Kelvin Way. The car was parked on the street for 12 minutes, during which time Pacteau attacked and murdered her by grabbing her neck and delivering 12 or 13 blows with the spanner. The court was told Ms Buckley suffered some injuries to her arm as she tried to defend herself.
Pacteau’s silver Ford Focus was seen on CCTV leaving the area and heading towards Dawsholm Park, where the following morning a member of the public found Ms Buckley’s handbag near a bin.Pacteau’s silver Ford Focus was seen on CCTV leaving the area and heading towards Dawsholm Park, where the following morning a member of the public found Ms Buckley’s handbag near a bin.
Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland QC, prosecuting, told the court how Pacteau drove from the park to his flat and took Ms Buckley’s body to his room. The lord advocate, Frank Mulholland QC, prosecuting, told the court how Pacteau drove from the park to his flat and took Ms Buckley’s body to his room.
At 8am he used his mobile phone to search online for the properties of the chemical sodium hydroxide, or caustic soda. He then locked his bedroom door and travelled to a B&Q store where he bought six litres of the chemical, masks and gloves, the court heard. He also went to a Poundstretcher store near his flat and bought more of the chemical.At 8am he used his mobile phone to search online for the properties of the chemical sodium hydroxide, or caustic soda. He then locked his bedroom door and travelled to a B&Q store where he bought six litres of the chemical, masks and gloves, the court heard. He also went to a Poundstretcher store near his flat and bought more of the chemical.
He texted his flatmate to make sure he was out for the day, then returned to the flat and left Ms Buckley’s body in the bath.He texted his flatmate to make sure he was out for the day, then returned to the flat and left Ms Buckley’s body in the bath.
Pacteau was found cleaning the hall and stairwell when his flatmate returned home at around 8pm. He had moved Ms Buckley’s body into his locked bedroom again wrapped in a duvet, the court heard.Pacteau was found cleaning the hall and stairwell when his flatmate returned home at around 8pm. He had moved Ms Buckley’s body into his locked bedroom again wrapped in a duvet, the court heard.
Mulholland told the court how Pacteau left his flat at around 5am the following morning and went to a bridge over the nearby Forth and Clyde canal where he threw the spanner in the water. He then drove to a supermarket and bought cleaning products and asked a member of staff to recommend a product for removing blood from a mattress.Mulholland told the court how Pacteau left his flat at around 5am the following morning and went to a bridge over the nearby Forth and Clyde canal where he threw the spanner in the water. He then drove to a supermarket and bought cleaning products and asked a member of staff to recommend a product for removing blood from a mattress.
Pacteau made his first journey to High Craigton farm, an area familiar to him because he rented a storage unit there during a previous job selling fireworks, and stopped at a supermarket on the way to buy white spirit and a lighter, the court was told.Pacteau made his first journey to High Craigton farm, an area familiar to him because he rented a storage unit there during a previous job selling fireworks, and stopped at a supermarket on the way to buy white spirit and a lighter, the court was told.
He burned some clothing at the farm before returning to his flat where he used his mobile phone to call a packaging company and ordered a large blue barrel. Mulholland said Pacteau collected the barrel and returned to Dorchester Avenue where he placed Ms Buckley’s body inside it.He burned some clothing at the farm before returning to his flat where he used his mobile phone to call a packaging company and ordered a large blue barrel. Mulholland said Pacteau collected the barrel and returned to Dorchester Avenue where he placed Ms Buckley’s body inside it.
He then drove the mattress to the farmland where he burned it along with other items before returning to the flat and putting the barrel in his car. He stopped to buy padlocks at an Asda store then went to the farm where he arranged to rent two storage units for a week. He moved the barrel into one of the units, covered it with a sheet and placed a bike wheel and paper shredder on top.He then drove the mattress to the farmland where he burned it along with other items before returning to the flat and putting the barrel in his car. He stopped to buy padlocks at an Asda store then went to the farm where he arranged to rent two storage units for a week. He moved the barrel into one of the units, covered it with a sheet and placed a bike wheel and paper shredder on top.
Pacteau visited a car valet on his way home, at around 4pm, the court heard. While waiting for the Ford Focus to be cleaned, he used his phone to create an advert to sell his car.Pacteau visited a car valet on his way home, at around 4pm, the court heard. While waiting for the Ford Focus to be cleaned, he used his phone to create an advert to sell his car.
Police officers knocked on his door around two hours later after he was identified as the man talking to Ms Buckley on CCTV. As he opened the door to the police Pacteau said: “I was just coming to see you”, Mulholland told the court.Police officers knocked on his door around two hours later after he was identified as the man talking to Ms Buckley on CCTV. As he opened the door to the police Pacteau said: “I was just coming to see you”, Mulholland told the court.
The officers noticed a strong smell of bleach in the flat and a tool box and other items in a bedroom. Pacteau agreed to go with the officers to the station as a witness. During a search, police found a Poundstretcher receipt for a series of chemicals and padlock keys in the 21-year-old’s pockets.The officers noticed a strong smell of bleach in the flat and a tool box and other items in a bedroom. Pacteau agreed to go with the officers to the station as a witness. During a search, police found a Poundstretcher receipt for a series of chemicals and padlock keys in the 21-year-old’s pockets.
He gave a statement saying he met Ms Buckley outside the club and they both went back to his flat where they had consensual sex.He gave a statement saying he met Ms Buckley outside the club and they both went back to his flat where they had consensual sex.
He told police Ms Buckley had fallen and injured herself on the bed frame but he did not notice she had been bleeding until the following morning, and when he realised police were looking for information regarding her disappearance he panicked.He told police Ms Buckley had fallen and injured herself on the bed frame but he did not notice she had been bleeding until the following morning, and when he realised police were looking for information regarding her disappearance he panicked.
He told them he had burned the mattress and clothes on a forest road near Drymen and he did this because he was aware he was the last person to see her alive.He told them he had burned the mattress and clothes on a forest road near Drymen and he did this because he was aware he was the last person to see her alive.
Meanwhile, police searching his flat removed items to be examined and Ms Buckley’s blood was confirmed as being within the property.Meanwhile, police searching his flat removed items to be examined and Ms Buckley’s blood was confirmed as being within the property.
When he was detained by police, officers recovered a hand-written note containing the account of what he had earlier told police. The Lord Advocate said it was now accepted by the accused that his statements were untrue. When he was detained by police, officers recovered a handwritten note containing the account of what he had earlier told police. The lord advocate said it was now accepted by the accused that his statements were untrue.
The court heard how a member of the public had contacted police after reading that Pacteau was the last person so see Ms Buckley alive and realising police were looking for information on a vehicle seen on roads near Drymen, the witness told officers about the storage unit at the farm that Pacteau used in the past.The court heard how a member of the public had contacted police after reading that Pacteau was the last person so see Ms Buckley alive and realising police were looking for information on a vehicle seen on roads near Drymen, the witness told officers about the storage unit at the farm that Pacteau used in the past.
Police then went to High Craigton Farm where they found the blue plastic barrel containing Ms Buckley’s body. Police then went to High Craigton farm where they found the blue plastic barrel containing Ms Buckley’s body.
A post-mortem examination showed she had suffered multiple injuries to her head consistent with blunt force, the court heard. A postmortem examination showed she had suffered multiple injuries to her head consistent with blunt force, the court heard.