Alistair Wilson was shot and killed on his doorstep in Nairn, Scottish Highlands, by an unknown man who handed him a envelope in a 20 year mystery Police Scotland has failed to solve
Family of a banker who was shot and killed on his doorstep 20 years ago have slammed police ‘incompetence’ as the case remains cold.
Dad-of-two Alistair Wilson was murdered by a mystery man who visited the family home in Nairn, in the Highlands on Sunday, November 28, 2004. The unknown man had called by, asking for Alistair by name when wife Veronica answered the door at around 7pm.
The 30-year-old came to the door, where he was handed a blue envelope addressed to ‘Paul’ and briefly went back inside. He then returned to the door for a second time where he was shot and died later that evening in hospital.
The weapon, a a Haenel Suhl pocket pistol from the 1930s, was recovered from a drain near his home 10 days later. But almost two decades on, Alistair’s family say they no longer trust Police Scotland’s ability to catch the killer and bring him to justice.
The Wilson family said they had supported every aspect of the investigation since 2004, turning down media interviews at detectives’ advice, but that relations were now “damaged beyond repair”. Scotland ’s top law officer Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC announced earlier this week she had ordered a complete reinvestigation of the case.
A statement from the family said: “At the request of Police Scotland, we’ve previously agreed to stay out of the spotlight by declining numerous invitations from the media to give interviews out with those official appeals. However, over the past 18 months, our relationship with the police has steadily deteriorated because of unresolved and ongoing issues that are not being properly addressed.
“Approaching the 20th anniversary of Alistair’s unsolved murder, having desperately attempted every other avenue for resolution we possibly could, we feel distressed and disappointed at having no other option other than to speak out publicly.” The Wilson family added that they had made a series of complaints about the investigation, including against head of major crime Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Livingstone.
They added: “The poor judgment and lack of accountability at the highest levels of Police Scotland has regrettably eroded any trust we have in their ability to secure justice for Alistair.” Alistair was a father of two young children, the oldest, Andrew, being just four when his father was murdered.
Now aged 24, Andrew said he couldn’t understand why DCS Livingstone remained in his job, adding that Chief Constable Jo Farrell had turned down the family’s request for a meeting. “What we have suffered is nothing short of incompetent police leadership and, if it continues, it risks getting in the way of catching my dad’s killer and getting the justice we as a family deserve,” Andrew said.
Alistair’s widow, now aged Veronica, 53, added: “It pains me that my sons have been robbed of having a father, but for them and my husband to be denied justice two decades on from that tragedy is even more traumatic for the family. We have lost confidence in Police Scotland.”
The force said it had meanwhile appointed a new detective to oversee the investigation. Assistant Chief Constable Steve Johnson said: “We have recently received new instruction from the Lord Advocate to reinvestigate the murder of Alistair Wilson.
“Officers remain committed and determined to identify Alistair’s killer and to get justice for his family. We are in the process of identifying the investigation team and it will be overseen by a Detective Chief Superintendent in their capacity as a Strategic Senior Investigation Officer.
“They will conduct a thorough reinvestigation of this murder. Unresolved murder cases are never closed in Scotland and there is no time bar to providing the police with information. We would appeal to anyone who may have information not yet shared with the police to come forward and report.”
Anyone with information on Alistair’s murder or who witnessed the events on the night of November 28, 2004, should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident 515 of March 4 2022 and Operation Sorn.
