Achi news desk-
A vicious father and son have been branded “cowardly monsters” following the horror murders of two innocent men who were stabbed, beaten and mutilated in a savage crime spree that left tough cops sick.
Ian and Dean McLeod hacked off victim Derek Johnston’s ears, cut off his nose and lip and drove off nails into his eyes
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The torturers used a hammer, Stanley knife and machetes to cause 136 injuries to their second victim – neighbor Desmond Rawlings, 66 years old.
The letters YLT – believed to stand for Edinburgh street gang Young Leith Team – were burned onto the bodies of the two victims at the time police officers They later found some of their body parts in a backpack belonging to the couple.
Judge Lord Arthurson said the two friends were caged for at least 34 years violence was “extreme, continuous and protracted”.
He told them: “This is one of the worst cases of murder to come before the Supreme Court.”
The court heard how McLeod Jnr, 42, had earlier bought two hammers, forensic interchangeabilityPlastic shoes and goggles.
Former football hooligan Ian McLeod – known as Bronco – then separately lured the two victims to their deaths on his own time Home In the capital’s Craigmillar.
Days before the murders, Mr Johnston, 37, of Liverton in the city, told a neighbor how he feared for his life, warning the two were “coming to kill him”.
But he went to McLeod’s home on October 30, 2022 – and was never to be seen again, the Supreme Court in the city Audio.
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Late at night, the maniac, 66, went to his victim’s register to collect his dog before returning later.
God the next The day the sadist invited the retired joiner Mr Rawlings – about to celebrate his 67th Birthday – into his house.
Within hours, suspicions were raised when the victim’s partner called to wish him a happy birthday and he did not answer his phone.
She went to his apartment, where she found TV set and lights on and his Car Outside but no one home.
Police were called and made the gruesome discovery after forcing their way into McLeod’s home.
Deputy Solicitor Gavin Anderson told how Mr Rowling’s body was found under the living room window, covered with a blanket.
He added: “A Stanley knife, a hammer and a torch were found next to him.
“He suffered significant injuries to his head and body, including the partial removal of his ears and nose, as well as multiple stab wounds to his face.”
Meanwhile the mangled remains of Mr. Johnston were thrown into the bath, covered with a carpet.
Describing the gruesome find, Mr. Anderson added: “Hotman had a hammer in his head. A nail was sticking out of each eyeball.”
Mr Anderson said the nails were driven into Mr Johnston’s eyes, his left appendix ear and the tip of the nose was removed after death.
He was found with 28 separate injuries to the head, neck and limbs including multiple blows to the head.
Tests showed he was alive “for at least several hours” after the injuries were first inflicted, but may not have been conscious.
Meanwhile Mr Rawlings had 136 obvious injuries to his head, neck, chest, back and limbs.
Police found a note in the blood-splattered apartment written by Dean McLeod – nicknamed “Denim” – which read: “What we did was evil and sadistic but I’ve been begging for help for decades.”
It turned out that the killers drove away from the terror and then took methadone, a heroin substitute, in a bid to commit suicide.
They were taken to Edinburgh royal Clinic, where Dean McLeod smashed waiting room tables and talked about “persistent thoughts about mutilating people”.
God killer Claimed to admire his father who was a “pure warrior of a man”, the court heard.
After officers located the pair they searched Dean McLeod’s rucksack where they found a pouch containing part of Mr Johnston’s ear, a piece of Mr Rawlings’ nose and parts of both men’s flesh.
The twisted duo admitted murdering Mr Johnston between October 30 and November 1, 2022, by repeatedly hitting him over the head with a Stanley knife and machete and hitting him over the head with a hammer.
They also admitted to burning the letters into his forehead, cutting off an ear and part of his nose and pushing nails through his eyes.
They confessed to murdering Mr. Rawlings by repeatedly hitting him in the head and body with a Stanley knife and machetes and repeatedly hitting him in the head and body with a hammer.
They burned the letters ‘V’, ’19’ and ‘YLA’ on his body with the blowtorch and cut off parts of his nose and upper lip and cut off his ears.
Prosecutor Mr Anderson said: “The Crown cannot say which deceased died first, although the findings would be consistent with Mr Johnston dying first.
“The Crown cannot say whether Mr Johnston was already dead by the time Mr Rawlings entered the scene, although it is possible.”
Lord Arthurson, echoing a bereaved loved one, described the double murder as “the cowardly acts of monsters”.
Moira Or, of Crown The office and the attorney said: “These were brutal and senseless killings.
“Their actions caused victims untold distress” familiesEspecially Derek’s mother and sister and his two daughters and Desmond’s partner.”
Detective Inspector Susan Balfour added: “My thoughts remain with the families of Derek and Desmond. They have had to endure unimaginable pain and trauma.
“These crimes were some of the most violent I have ever seen.
“People are safer now than those two men are in prison.”
