‘We have lost confidence in Police Scotland’ - Family of Nairn man Alistair Wilson speak out after murder case reopens

This comes after the recent announcement that The Lord Advocate had instructed a complete reinvestigation of the case, with a new team of prosecutors from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and a new team of officers from Police Scotland set to work on the full cold-case investigation.

Alistair’s 53-year-old wife Veronica and their oldest son Andrew (24) spoke in an interview to the Press & Journal saying this move was a “huge disappointment” for them.

They said: Last week's announcement that Alistair's murder would be subject to a "complete reinvestigation" was upsetting and a huge disappointment as the announcement felt far from the ‘good news story’ that Police Scotland wanted it to be.

“Our loyalty to and cooperation with Police Scotland has long been taken for granted during a sometimes turbulent relationship that the actions of senior leadership has damaged beyond repair.”

“For nearly 20 years, we as a family have fully supported every aspect of the police’s investigation into the murder of our husband and father Alistair.

“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 outwith 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.”

They added that they felt it would not be appropriate for them to comment on recent media reports of the police aborting a planned arrest in relation to Alistair’s murder, however they have since made a series of complaints about Police Scotland’s handling of Alistair’s investigation, including the conduct of its head of major crime Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Livingstone.

“As a family, we have welcomed some of the conclusions by Police Scotland’s Professional Standards Department (PSD) and the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC), with the former upholding one complaint against DCS Livingstone,” they added.

“Despite awaiting the outcome of upcoming disciplinary proceedings, DCS Livingstone remains in his job and is not even suspended.

“That he continues to have oversight of every murder enquiry in Scotland, including Alistair’s is a completely unacceptable situation, particularly given his integrity has been questioned.

“The poor judgement 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.

“We were shocked our request to meet Chief Constable Jo Farrell in a last-ditch attempt to salvage relations was met with an outright refusal.

“If Police Scotland has any credibility left, it will prioritise putting investigations and justice ahead of protecting its own reputation.”

Alistair’s oldest son, Andrew Wilson, 24, said: “I cannot understand why Paul Livingstone hasn’t been sacked and if Jo Farrell won’t rethink our request for a meeting, then it brings into question her position too.

“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.”

Veronica Wilson, Alistair’s 53-year-old wife 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.”

Assistant chief constable Steve Johnson, Police Scotland, 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 re-investigation 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.”