A father-son duo who brutally murdered two men in 2022, torturing them with machetes and hammers before finally killing them have finally learned their sentence.
Ian MacLeod, 66, and his 42-year-old son, Dylan were both sentenced to 34 years behind bars for the spine-chilling killings of Derek Johnston and Desmond Rowlings. The father-son duo toyed with the men, repeatedly hitting them over the head with a Stanley knife, a machete, and a hammer.
The MacLeods must serve the entirety of their terms before being eligible for parole, according to the Daily Mail.
MacLeod senior initially invited Johnston and Rowlings to his flat in Greendykes House in the Craigmillar area of Edinburgh between October 30 and November 1, 2022.
After maiming the men, the pair used a blowtorch to carve 'YLT' into Johnston's foreheads, sliced off an ear and part of his nose, and forced nails through his eyes.
With Rowlings, they burned the letters 'VT', 'YT', and 'YLT' across his body, severed parts of his nose and upper lip, and cut off his ears.
Johnston, who lived in Liberton, Edinburgh, told a neighbor just days prior that he had heard rumors that the two killers were out for blood, the DailyMail reported.
Despite these comments, Johnston still arrived to the flat on October 30, roughly around 6:15 p.m.
Rowlings, a retired joiner, showed up to the gathering later on October 31.
Advocate deputy Gavin Anderson told the court that police had to break into the father and son's flat, where they found the victims' bodies.
"The body of Mr. Rowlings was found in the living room. He was lying on his back in the far right corner of the room, under a window. He was covered by a blanket," Anderson described.
Anderson continued with the grisly details as he spoke in the courtroom.
"A Stanley knife, hammer, and blowtorch were found beside him. He had sustained significant injuries to his head and body, including the partial removal of his ears and nose, as well as multiple stab wounds to the face."
"The body of Mr. Johnston was found in the bathroom, lying within the bath. He was covered by a rug. He had sustained significant injuries to his head and body. A hammer was embedded in his head. A nail was protruding from each eyeball."
Following the murders, Dean left a bloodied note for police that read,
"What we have done was evil and sadistic, but I have pleaded for help for decades."
The duo left the scene of the crime and each took a dose of methadone in an attempt to commit suicide; however, they ended up driving themselves to the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.
That's where they met off-duty doctors on the grounds of the psychiatric institution before being taken to Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary.
Ian MacLeod's counsel, Brian McConnachie KC, explained to the court that the father, who was previously jailed for six years on assault charges, has several health issues, including Parkinson's disease.
Mark Stewart KC, counsel for Dean MacLeod, also claimed his client has been suffering from mental health issues for years.
A judge told the pair at Edinburgh's High Court:
"This is, on any view, one of the worst cases of murder to come before the High Court."
