Family outraged as Luke Holland’s killer given a reduced sentence because he was drunk
A German man found with illegal Nazi memorabilia in his flat has been sentenced for the killing of an Oxford educated, former Freshfields lawyer.
But his family have been left bewildered after murderer ‘Rolf Z’ was given a reduced sentenced because he was drunk.
The 63-year-old killer — who benefited from the laws of diminished responsibility — shot 31-year-old Luke Holland in the stomach as he left a nightclub in Berlin. He was found in a pool of blood by a passer-by and died on his way to hospital.
The private equity specialist had been living in the German capital to launch a tech start-up. Before that, he had trained and worked as an associate at the elite magic circle firm’s London office.
A German father of three known only as Rolf Z was found guilty of Holland’s murder, and though the family’s lawyer pushed for him to receive a minimum jail term of 15 years, he was instead sentenced to 11 years and eight months.
According to The Standard, the deceased family are incensed. Cousin Craig McElhinney told the newspaper:
I just don’t understand their legal system. His parents texted me just to say, ‘We are relieved it’s all over’. They know nothing will bring their son back but they are furious that the defence gets to appeal to shorten the sentence even further but they don’t get a chance to demand a longer time.
