Murderer can go to wedding

A MAN fighting a conviction for murdering his cousin has been allowed to leave Scotland to attend a family wedding.

Ian Geddes, 55, was released from prison earlier this year pending an appeal against his conviction, and one of the conditions was that he remained in the country.

But yesterday, appeal judges in Edinburgh agreed to a request to vary the condition so Geddes could go to Northumberland for three days next month for his son’s wedding.

Geddes was found guilty in 2005 of killing Charlie McKay, 48, an oilrig electrician, who was found dead at the bottom of stairs in his home in Inverness. He was ordered to serve at least 15 years of a life sentence.

The jury believed Geddes had drugged his cousin, smothered him with a pillow and then moved the body to make it appear Mr McKay had died in an accident.

The trial heard Geddes had already milked £32,000 from his cousin’s bank accounts and had forged a will leaving him another £25,000.

Geddes maintained Mr McKay had fallen down the stairs or had died from the effects of years of heavy drinking. His appeal is due to be heard later this year.