Murderer told police he wanted to join victims before jumping to his death
PIRC has found that officers handled the situation appropriately
The police watchdog's found officers who raced to a Donside Court flat in the moments before a man jumped to his death acted appropriately.
Four Police Scotland officers were called to the Aberdeen tower block at 8.17pm on 19 July 2016.
Reports from residents found that a woman had been heard screaming and a man had been seen with blood on his hands on the balcony.
On entering the flat, officers found Keith Taylor, 44, lying on the living room sofa with stab wounds. They then saw Hugh Gallacher, 56, standing on the balcony of the flat.
His hands appeared to be bloodstained and he shouted to the officers that he was responsible for inflicting the injuries to Mr Taylor and Tracy Gabriel, 41, the resident of the flat. She was subsequently found on the balcony with stab wounds to her chest.
Two of the officers carried out CPR on Mr Taylor, whilst the other two officers attempted, over a three to four minute period, to calm Hugh Gallacher and persuade him to come back inside.
However, Hugh Gallacher told officers: “If they’re dead, I’m joining them.”
He then slammed the balcony window shut and jumped to his death.
The officers found Ms Gabriel on the balcony and carried out first aid on her whilst other officers carried out first aid on Hugh Gallacher, on the ground outside the tower block.
All three died from their injuries.
The incident was referred to the PIRC by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service for investigation. The enquiry focused on the circumstances surrounding the death of Hugh Gallacher and in particular the interaction and conversation between him and the police before his death.
Following agreement with the COPFS, Commissioner Kate Frame is now able to publish a summary of her findings.
The Commissioner said: “The call to Police Scotland was categorised correctly and officers were dispatched to the scene within the required 5 minute timescale.
“It is clear that officers attempted to persuade Hugh Gallacher to come back into the flat from the balcony but had limited opportunity to prevent him from completing his stated intention of suicide.
“They were confronted with very difficult circumstances but dealt with them appropriately and with a high degree of professionalism."