Family of Scots banker shot dead on doorstep slam 'insulting' chief constable

The 30-year-old father of two was shot in Nairn in November 2004 and his killer has never been found.

The family of a Scots banker who was shot dead on his doorstep 20 years ago has slammed the chief constable of Police Scotland as "callous" for how she has handled the case.

Alistair Wilson was shot in Nairn in November 2004 and his killer has never been found.

Scotland's top law officer has ordered a new investigation into the case - and Chief Constable Jo Farrell this week announced a team had been put in place, while saying the force remained “absolutely committed” to solving the murder.

Relatives of the 30-year-old father of two previously branded police "incompetent" and now the family say they have been "kept in the dark" by cops after criticising how the probe had been handled.

The family claim no one from the force has spoken to them since the chief constable's statement and it was "insulting" of her to tell the media she had no plans to do so, reports BBC Scotland.

In a statement, the family said: "We had previously extended the courtesy of informing officers of our plan to speak out against the incompetence of senior figures, which is having a detrimental effect on the progress of this 20-year-long unsolved case.

"We also criticised Chief Constable Jo Farrell’s outright refusal to meet with our family to discuss ongoing issues that remain unresolved. It was insulting for Jo Farrell to tell the media – not us – that she hasn’t 'got any plans' to meet us. Learning of this impersonal response from her through media reports was a devastating blow dealt by a callous police chief."

Jo Farrell has said Police Scotland is absolutely committed to getting justice for the Wilson family.

On Monday, the chief constable told BBC Scotland it was important that the new senior investigating officer and family liaison team "build a productive relationship" with the Wilson family.

She said: "That’s the important relationship at this stage in order to bring about confidence and justice. We have always been committed to this investigation but the family’s views in relation to us are not positive.

"We’re trying through the new senior investigating officer and family liaison officers to build these bridges and provide confidence to the family that we can get justice for them."

Andrew's wife Veronica has also criticised the chief constable and the overall investigation and claims she had not been told who the new senior officer was, and that the previous family liaison team told her their replacements were yet to be appointed.

She said: “Jo Farrell was further contradicted when the Family Liaison Officer told us that, although a new SIO had been identified, they were actually abroad on holiday the day after the chief constable said 'a new SIO and team' were 'working now'. Astonishingly, we were also informed that nobody will be back at work until next week."

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The chief constable has said Police Scotland is "absolutely committed to getting justice for that family".

She added: "Nearly 20 years on, the effect on the family is unimaginable. We have always been committed to this investigation but the family’s views in relation to us are not positive.

"We’re trying through the new senior investigating officer and family liaison officers to build these bridges and provide confidence to the family that we can get justice for them."

Responding to the Wilson family's statement, a Police Scotland spokesperson said a senior investigating officer had been appointed and the wider team which will take the investigation forward was being identified.

The spokesperson said: "The chief constable was referencing the strategic senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Suzanne Chow, who was in contact with the family last week via family liaison officers. A senior investigating officer has also been appointed and the wider team, which will take forward the reinvestigation, is being identified. The family have been kept updated on this work."

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