A man has been arrested after the body of a 70-year-old pensioner was found near his home in the north-east of Scotland.
Grampian Police launched a murder investigation yesterday after the body of Michael Holding was discovered near the picturesque Inchmarlo Golf complex, around three miles from Banchory, in the early hours of the morning.
It is believed to have been found in or close to Target Wood, near to the Glen O'Dee Hospital, off an unclassified road leading from the A93 past Banchory.
A 28-year-old man has been detained and is due to appear at Aberdeenshire Sheriff Court on Monday.
A Grampian Police spokesman said: "At 05.40am today, Grampian Police attended at East Mains, Inchmarlo, Banchory in relation to the report of a death of a 70-year-old man there.
"It can be confirmed this death is being treated as a murder and a 28-year-old man has been arrested in relation to this matter."
A report is to be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
It is understood police sealed off the area to allow forensic officers to study the scene, as well as at Mr Holding's home. Officers have also been doing house-to-house inquiries and visiting pubs and businesses in the area gathering information.
Mr Holding is understood to have been living on his own for some time in Inchmarlo after his wife Linda lost a battle against cancer.
More recently, it is thought that his son, Ben, a business development executive with STV in Aberdeen, and new wife Sarah Stewart who he married in the summer, had been living with the pensioner while awaiting a move into a new house in the area.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Matt Mackay, said: "Inquiries are at a very early stage and full forensic examinations are being carried out at the scene."
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