Roderick McDonald

Case record: Roderick McDonald

Overview

Roderick McDonald was dubbed the “kinky killer” after strangling his wife, Elizabeth. He was jailed for life at the High Court in Edinburgh in 1993 for murder. Elizabeth, 36, had left McDonald after tiring of his sexual demands, which included three-in-a-bid romps. She returned after he promised an end to the threesomes, but McDonald strangled her soon after. Despite claiming he couldn't remember what happened, he was convicted.

The offence

Elizabeth McDonald died after being strangled soon after she returned to McDonald after promising an end to the threesomes.

The court heard that McDonald strangled Elizabeth for denying his pleas for three-in-a-bed sex with his male lover.

McDonald claimed he could not remember what happened on the night of Elizabeth’s death. He said he had awoken to find his wife dead in bed beside him, with his arm around her neck.

Investigation

Police officers in Tayside issued a fresh appeal for information to help catch a killer who escaped from Castle Huntly open prison.

Arrest and detention

McDonald was moved to HMP Greenock after being sentenced in 1993, and he remained there until December 2004.

He was moved in December 2004 to Castle Huntley open prison in Longforgan.

On April 11, 2005, prison guards discovered he had absconded from Castle Huntly. Despite extensive inquiries, he was not seen since.

McDonald was around 6ft with a heavy build. He was described as having blue eyes and grey receding hair with bushy eyebrows.

He was last seen wearing a black jumper, blue polo shirt and blue denim jeans.

Trial

In court during the trial for his wife’s murder, McDonald denied murdering her and said he had no memory of what happened on the night of her death.

McDonald told the court he had ordered Mr Russell to leave the house just hours before he had awoken to find his wife dead.

McDonald said he had awoken on November 23, 1992 to find Elizabeth dead in bed beside him and with his arm around her neck.

The jury returned a majority verdict of guilty.

Judge Lord Penrose sentenced McDonald to life imprisonment with an order to serve a minimum of nine years.

Sentencing

McDonald was sentenced to life imprisonment with an order to serve a minimum of nine years.

Appeals

A fresh appeal for information was issued in connection with his absconding from Castle Huntly.

Outcome

McDonald escaped from Castle Huntly open prison on April 11, 2005.

Roderick McDonald was found dead in his prison cell after being described as a “Kinky Killer.” He was discovered hanged while awaiting trial for a second murder.

A Prison Service spokeswoman said:

“Resuscitation was attempted, but the prisoner was pronounced dead. Investigation “As with all deaths in custody, the Prison and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation.”

McDonald committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell on February 27, 2007.

Second accusation and related proceedings

After escaping, McDonald was accused of killing a Brazilian man in a London hotel bedroom.

He was alleged to have killed Acioli Pariz-Junior, described as 29 years old, and the body was found at the Westminster House Hotel in Belgravia, London, on Valentine’s Day.

McDonald had been arrested in Brighton on February 19 and appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court, charged with the murder of Acioli Pariz-Junior.

The body was found at Westminster House Hotel, in Belgravia, London, on Valentine’s Day.

He had been in the UK since 2005 and worked as a cleaner.

McDonald had been working at Acqua Sauna on Springfield Road, using the assumed name of Craig.

Originally from Edinburgh, he was found hanged in his cell at Brixton Prison in London, where he had been remanded in custody.

He was due to appear before an Old Bailey judge in May charged with murder.

Acioli was described as from Jaguare, Espirito Santo, and he had been due to travel to Italy to get citizenship before returning to London.

Acioli’s mother, Benildes, said:

“He loved the UK. It was his second homeland. “He thought he was always safe, that it was all wonderful."

Other details

McDonald was previously jailed in 1993 for killing his wife Elizabeth when she refused to get involved in sex games with him and another man.

He was sent to HMP Greenock and later moved to Castle Huntly open prison in Longforgan.

One account described McDonald living secretly in Blackpool for two years after escaping, carrying out a violent rape on another man, and then moving to London to avoid police attention. He was alleged to have stabbed and strangled Junior Pariz in a hotel room.

Another account described him as an ex-soldier working as a barman in a gay sauna in Blackpool before going on the run.