20 year old cold case to see a complete reinvestigation

Alistair Wilson was murdered on his own doorstep in Nairn back in November 2004

Mr Wilson's death has seen efforts to review the information over the years, but to no avail
Author: John RosePublished 16th Sep 2024
Last updated 16th Sep 2024

The 2004 murder of Alistair Wilson in Nairn is to see a complete reinvestigation.

Back in November 2004, Mr Wilson was shot on the doorstep of his home in Nairn and he died from the injuries he received.

The instruction from the Lord Advocate will see a new team of prosecutors from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and a new team of officers from Police Scotland tasked with working on the full cold-case investigation.

Alistair Wilson with son Andrew

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC said: “This was a deeply disturbing crime in which a devastating loss was suffered by Mr Wilson’s family. There have been strenuous efforts made over many years to resolve this case and a great deal of evidence has been gathered.

“However, I have decided that it is appropriate for all the details of the case to be considered afresh and for further investigations to be made.

“It is my sincere hope that this secures justice for Alistair Wilson’s family and for the wider community who have been affected by this violent crime.”

The murder has seen a number of efforts to revive the case, including in 2022 when it was thought a planning application could have had an impact on events.

There were also reports of two men seen with a gun on a beach at Nairn a month before a father-of-two was shot on the doorstep of his home in the town.

Mr Wilson was shot at about 7pm on Sunday, November 28th after a man called at the family's home on Crescent Road, Nairn, spoke to his wife, Veronica, who had answered the door, and asked for her husband by name.

The 30-year-old father went downstairs to speak to the man and was handed a blue envelope with the word "Paul" on it.

He went inside briefly and then returned to the door for a second time where he was fatally shot.

Mr Wilson died later that evening in hospital.

The gun was recovered from a drain near his home 10 days after his murder.

It is hoped that with a full revision of the case it will end what has been one of the most puzzling cases for north detectives.