Man who murdered his mother remains executor of her estate

Ross Taggart, 33, from Dunfermline, strangled his mother, Carol, 54, in 2014 before trying to pawn some of her property.

He was convicted in November 2015, which barred him from inheriting, but he nevertheless remains executor of his mother’s £350,000 estate as he was appointed in her will.

Carol’s family said that he refused to abandon the role and refused his sister, Lorraine Bristow, access to their mother’s property.

She is now backing a petition, set up by her husband, Stephen, calling for convicted murderers to be prevented from acting as executors for their victims.

Mr Taggart killed his mother following an argument days before Christmas before using her credit card on a night out in Edinburgh.

Police discovered her body under a caravan at Pettycur Bay in fife.

Lord Uist sentenced Mr Taggar to life with a minimum period of 18 years.

The change.org petition states: “Ross Taggart is in jail dictating to his lawyers what should be done with the estate of the person he murdered. All the family photographs and memories are locked away in a house that a convicted murderer makes the decisions about.”