Forensics tent appears outside Highland house where father was murdered

The man in charge of the investigation into the death of Ross MacGillivray, who was found dead from horrific injuries in a house in St Ninian Drive at around 12.10am on Sunday, admitted that "a significant level of violence" was used in the killing.

A forensics tent has now been put up outside the house of the murder scene as a formal investigation continues.

Police are enquiring for more information about two men who were present at the house when Ross MacGillivray was murdered.

The first man is described as black, around 6ft tall, of slim build, with short black hair and stubble around his mouth. He was wearing a blue puffer jacket, black tracksuit bottoms and white trainers, which were described as chunky. He is believed to have spoken with a Liverpool accent.

The second man is described as white, around 5ft 8ins tall, of slim build, with brown hair, which was shaved at the sides and longer on top. He was wearing a black waterproof jacket, grey and black trousers and black trainers.

The appeal also centred on a woman who was possibly with the two men in the St Valery Avenue area of Inverness at around 12.20am on Sunday after the suspects had been seen entering the St Ninian Drive property at about 10.20pm on Saturday and leaving shortly after midnight.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin MacDougall said a woman who was in the property at the time has been questioned but was being treated as a witness not a suspect.

He would not say if she was under any level of protection but added: "Her safety is obviously of concern to us and it is something we will address with her directly."

It has been revealed that the dead man was under bail conditions not to be in the St Ninian Drive property since a private Inverness Sheriff Court appearance in July and had breached that condition at the end of last week.

"Ross had certain conditions to prevent him from being certain places and that is part of the investigation," DCI MacDougall said. "Ross's history and his background also features. I don't know why Ross was at that address and why he became the victim of this crime.

"Incidents such as this are thankfully very rare in the Highlands and we fully appreciate the impact this tragedy has had in the local community and across Inverness."

Police have maintained a presence at the house since the killing.

Anyone with information can call 101, quoting reference 0031 of Sunday, November 12, 2023, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.