The family of murdered Nairn banker Alistair Wilson have expressed their “extreme disappointment” that Scotland’s most senior police officer has “refused” to meet with them.
Mr Wilson was shot on the doorstep of his home in Nairn on November 28, 2004 by a man who called at the door and asked for him by name, before handing him an envelope and then shooting him.
Yesterday Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing told the Scottish Parliament the Wilson family had suffered “unending grief” since the killing, and that they had pursued a 20-year “campaign for justice”.
He said he had met with the family on Tuesday and they had asked him to express their “disappointment” that their requests for a meeting with Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell to discuss the unsolved case had so far been refused.
As we reported exclusively last week the family has met with First Minister John Swinney who said that, while he could not intervene in an ongoing police investigation, he hoped they would get the justice they deserve.
A reinvestigation of the case, for which nobody has ever been charged, was announced by Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC last September.
Mr Ewing told Holyrood yesterday: “Today, they wish me to express their extreme disappointment that the chief constable of Scotland, the top police officer in the land, has thus far refused to meet with them.”
This echoes comments the family have made previously.
Mr Ewing added: “They hope, presiding officer, that that is something that can be put right.”
He pointed out the family had met with the Lord Advocate as well as Mr Swinney.
Alistair Wilson was shot and killed at his home in 2004.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance said the Scottish Government recognises the Wilson family have endured an “unimaginable loss”.
She said would not “abuse” her position by making “requests or orders that are not appropriate to me”.
However, she stressed the importance of extending “the hand of engagement” even in difficult cases.
Highland Conservative MSP Douglas Ross said he had also spoken to the Wilson family, and that he “cannot understand the thought process” of the chief constable in refusing to meet with them.
He said: “If the head of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in Scotland, the Lord Advocate, can meet with the family, if the head of the Scottish Government, the First Minister, can meet with the family, surely the head of Police Scotland can also meet with the family.”
In a statement issued following the Wilson family’s meeting with Mr Swinney, Chief Superintendent Suzanne Chow, the strategic senior investigating officer for the case, said: “The Chief Constable has been very clear that we are determined to bring those involved in Alistair’s murder to justice and has underlined our support for his family.
“This is a live criminal investigation and the relationship and trust with Alistair’s family is a priority and must be built through myself, the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) and the family liaison officers.
“We have met Mrs Wilson and members of the wider family and will keep them updated on the reinvestigation.
“They have suffered 20 years of not knowing who killed Alistair or why and I am absolutely determined that we will do everything we can to get them those answers and the justice they deserve.”