TV Exec Jailed Over Father's Murder

A TV executive who murdered his father and disposed of his body in a wheelie bin - where it lay for nearly two months - has been jailed for life.

Benjamin Holding, 29, murdered 70-year-old Michael Holding by repeatedly bashing his head against the floor at their home near Banchory, Aberdeenshire on October 13, 2007.

Holding, a former business development officer with STV, was told at the High Court in Edinburgh, that he will spend at least 15 years behind bars for the crime.

The court heard that shortly after the killing, Holding began spending his father's money.

Police said he splashed out more than £30,000 during the seven-week spree.

Holding told the rest of the family that his father had gone on holiday and it is understood he also sent e-mail messages, claiming to be from his dad, to cover up the crime.

In July, Holding admitted murder, fraud charges and attempting to defeat justice by hiding the body and destroying evidence.

It is reported that Holding was in deep financial trouble by the time of the attack.

His father, Mr Holding, was retired but worked occasionally for an oil industry training company. His wife, Linda, had died in October 2006.

(DS)