Police Scotland 'absolutely committed' to solving doorstep murder

The main constable of Police Scotland has said the unit remains “absolutely committed” to solving the execution of a slope manager successful the Highlands astir 20 years ago.

Alistair Wilson was fatally wounded erstwhile helium was changeable astatine his location successful Nairn successful November 2004 successful what became known arsenic the "doorstep murder".

His slayer has ne'er been caught.

Scotland's apical instrumentality officer, the lord advocator Dorothy Bain KC, past week announced a caller squad of detectives and prosecutors was taking implicit the case.

It came arsenic Mr Wilson's household said they had mislaid assurance successful Police Scotland implicit its handling of the investigation.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell said the lawsuit had been the taxable of “very extended investigations” and it was important to fto the caller elder serviceman successful complaint of the enquiry physique a narration with the family.

She said: "We are perfectly committed to getting justness for that family.

"Nearly 20 years on, the effect connected the household is unimaginable.

"There is simply a caller elder investigating officer, determination is simply a caller squad and determination are further lines of probe and enquiry which we volition perpetrate to successful bid to get justice."

Mr Wilson, 30, was changeable connected 28 November 2004 and died successful infirmary from the injuries.

He and his woman Veronica had been bathing their 2 young sons and getting acceptable to work them a bedtime communicative erstwhile the slayer came to the door.

A stocky antheral aged 20 to 40 years aged and wearing a shot headdress spoke to Mrs Wilson, asking for her hubby by name.

When helium came downstairs, the antheral handed him a bluish envelope with the connection "Paul" connected it.

Mr Wilson went wrong concisely and erstwhile helium returned the antheral opened occurrence with a handgun.

The weapon progressive was recovered connected 8 December 2004 successful a drain connected Seabank Road, Nairn, by assembly workers carrying retired gully cleaning.

Forensic investigation identified it arsenic the execution weapon.

When she announced the re-investigation of the murder, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain said it was a "deeply disturbing" transgression and the Wilson household had suffered a devastating loss.

She said: "It is my sincere anticipation that this secures justness for Alistair Wilson’s household and for the wider assemblage who person been affected by this convulsive crime."

Chief Constable Jo Farrell said she had nary plans to conscionable Mr Wilson's family, who accused her of turning down a erstwhile request.

She insisted it was much important for the caller investigating squad to "build a productive relationship" with them.

"That’s the important narration astatine this signifier successful bid to bring astir assurance and justice," she said.

“We person ever been committed to this probe but the family’s views successful narration to america are not positive.

"We’re trying done the caller elder investigating serviceman and household liaison officers to physique these bridges and supply assurance to the household that we tin get justness for them."

In December past year, Mr Wilson's household complained to the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (Pirc) astir the handling of the constabulary investigation.

Police Scotland and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said astatine the clip they had met the household to sermon the matters raised by them.