The head of Scotland's police oversight body has issued a personal apology to the family of murdered banker Alistair Wilson, after a botched investigation into their complaints about the handling of the long-running case.
A Personal Visit and a Long-Awaited Apology
Chris Brown, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), visited Mr Wilson's widow, Veronica, and one of his sons at their home in Nairn this month. The purpose of the visit was to apologise directly for the authority's flawed initial probe into a grievance raised by the family.
Alistair Wilson, aged 30, was shot dead on the doorstep of his home in the Highland town in November 2004. His wife and two young sons were inside the house at the time. Nearly two decades later, his killer has never been caught.
Complaints Upheld After Flawed Investigations
The family had accused Deputy Chief Constable Bex Smith of misleading them regarding the arrest of a suspect. An initial SPA investigation dismissed this complaint. However, following a review by the independent Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC), the SPA was forced to re-examine the matter.
The second investigation upheld the complaint against Ms Smith. It was revealed that in September and October 2023, she provided false information to Mr Wilson's widow and son about a cancelled arrest. A suspect had been due to be arrested in May 2023, but the Crown Office called off the operation.
The PIRC's Ilya Zharov stated their review identified that the SPA's original handling of the complaints "fell well short of what would be considered a reasonable standard." A letter from the SPA later confirmed the two complaints against Ms Smith were upheld.
Ongoing Tensions and Further Action
It is understood that Ms Smith will face no disciplinary action beyond receiving guidance from Chief Constable Jo Farrell. However, a separate complaint by the Wilson family against Ms Farrell herself is ongoing. They have accused her of making a misleading public statement about the reinvestigation of the cold case.
This series of events has highlighted the deep tension between Mr Wilson's relatives and the police. A source close to the family said, "Bex Smith should be sacked and made an example of – and the same goes for Jo Farrell."
While Chris Brown believes his apology was well-received by the family, the case underscores the profound challenges and lasting pain associated with one of Scotland's most high-profile unsolved murders. The SPA declined to comment on complaint matters, and the search for justice for Alistair Wilson continues.
