Double murderer jailed for life

Tony Holland murdered Danny Hathaway and Bill O'Connor

A man who murdered a traveller and then killed another man while out on police bail has been jailed for life.

Tony Holland, 23, murdered Danny Hathaway, 44, of Corby, Northamptonshire, in February 2007. Mr Hathaway's body has not been found.

Holland, of Desborough, Northants, was also convicted of fatally stabbing Bill O'Connor, 20, from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, in April 2007.

He must serve a minimum of 35 years Ipswich Crown Court ruled.

Children's questions

Mr O'Connor was killed after Holland was bailed following his arrest on suspicion of Mr Hathaway's murder, the court heard.

The jury unanimously convicted Holland of Mr O'Connor's murder and found him guilty of Mr Hathaway's murder by a majority verdict.

In a statement Mr Hathaway's father appealed to those who know where his son's body is to come forward, so he can be found and have the "dignity of burial and the respect of a funeral".

"Please, for our sakes and the sake of his two children, tell us where Danny is," Kenneth Hathaway said.

He went on to accuse Holland of "sentencing us to a lifetime of uncertainty and questions".

Bill O'Connor and Danny Hathaway died in 2007

"Questions that we ask now and questions his children will continue to ask for many years as they grow older", he said.

Det Ch Insp Katie Elliott, of Northamptonshire Police, said there had not been enough evidence to charge Holland when he was first arrested on suspicion of murdering Mr Hathaway.

She said the investigation would continue until Mr Hathaway's body is found.

In a statement Mr O'Connor's family described Holland as "callous".

It read: "The actions of one callous man has changed so many lives. He has killed a part of all of us."

Outside court, Det Ch Insp David Skevington, of Suffolk Police, said the latest forensic techniques, mobile phone technology and automatic number plate recognition systems helped to identify and track Holland, and provide evidence to bring him to justice.