Anniversary of shooting of Nairn banker Alistair Wilson on his own doorstep
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Today it will be 17 years since Alistair Wilson was shot and killed at his own home.
Despite one of the biggest police inquiries in Scottish history, the perpetrator has still to be caught.
The crime has baffled police and has been the subject of several documentaries and intensive press coverage as well as a book by former Metropolitan undercover police officer Peter Bleksley.
The 30-year-old father-of-two was at home on the evening of November 28, 2004 with his wife Veronica and their two young children when an unidentified man rang the bell of the family’s Victorian villa in Crescent Road at about 7pm.
Wearing a baseball cap he asked for Mr Wilson by name. His wife who answered the door went upstairs to speak to her husband.
Mr Wilson then went downstairs before, it is understood, returning upstairs with an empty blue envelope.
He then went downstairs again, at which point his wife heard shots being fired.
She found her husband on the doorstep and ran across to the neighbouring Havelock Hotel, looking for help.
The apparent lack of any motive for the crime, police say, has been a major hindrance in solving the crime.
Mr Wilson was the business manager at the local Bank of Scotland branch.
At one stage the possibility of mistaken identity was considered but this was ruled out after police traced other people of the same name, including one in Nairn.
Ten days after the shooting council workmen clearing drains in Seabank Road recovered what was later confirmed as the murder weapon, a German pocket pistol.
It is suspected the killer made his escape along Marine Road and through the west end before depositing the gun down the drain opposite the Old Parish Church, about a mile from the murder scene.
Every year since police have renewed appeals for information but to no avail.
Last year Mr Wilson’s son Andrew made a plea for people with information to come forward.
Detective Superintendent Graeme Mackie said earlier this week: “The investigation into the murder of Alistair Wilson is active and we continue to investigate any new information we receive.
"It cannot be stressed often enough that this crime has left a family devastated and Police Scotland is committed to finding the answers for them and bringing the offender to justice.
“Anyone with information that could help our investigation can contact the enquiry team through 101 or email SCDHOLMESAberdeen@scotland.pnn.police.uk.”
