Inverness father’s murder: Timeline of how killers - one from Alness - were brought to court
Two men pleaded guilty today to the murder of Inverness man Ross MacGillivray almost exactly two years ago.
Mr MacGillivray (36) - described by family as a “doting father” - was found with serious injuries at a home in St Ninian Drive in Dalneigh, Inverness - on November 12, 2023.
Here is a timeline of events leading up to the case today:
November 12, 2023: Police were called just after midnight, but Mr MacGillivray was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the days that followed, a murder inquiry was launched by Police Scotland after a post-mortem examination confirmed the circumstances of Mr MacGillivray’s death.
By the weekend of November 18: Two men arrested in connection with the death.
November 20: Craig Hayden (28) from Alness, and Leon Headey (21), from Liverpool, appear in court charged with murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice. They made no plea and were remanded in custody.
July, 2024: A 32-year-old woman, later identified as Mr MacGillivray’s estranged wife, Samantha MacGillivray, was arrested in Portsmouth by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, acting on behalf of Police Scotland.
She was later transferred north to appear before Inverness Sheriff Court, also charged in connection with Ross’s death.
November 4, 2024: It was confirmed at the High Court in Glasgow that Hayden, Headey and Samantha MacGillivray would all stand trial for the murder of Ross MacGillivray.
October 22, 2025: Hayden and Headley both plead guilty to murder while Samantha MacGillivray admits attempting to defeat the ends of justice in connection with events after the killing.
Also appearing alongside the trio in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow, Lee Fraser (34) and Thomas Hooson (29) - as well as Headey - admit to the aggravated assault of a man in Alness on October 25, 2023.
The case was continued until a later date when prosecutor Graeme Jessop KC is expected to reveal further background and details to the crimes.