Alistair Wilson murder: Scotland's First Minister John Swinney prepared to meet family of banker gunned down on doorstep in 2004

5 December 2024, 13:37 | Updated: 5 December 2024, 15:12

Scotland's first minister has said he is prepared to meet the family of a murdered banker who was gunned down on his doorstep 20 years ago.

Dad-of-two Alistair Wilson, 30, was fatally shot in a gangland-style execution at his home in the Scottish Highlands on 28 November 2004, but to this day his killing remains unsolved.

Mr Wilson's family, who last year complained about the handling of the case, have lost confidence in an "incompetent" Police Scotland and its ability to secure justice for the late dad.

The family have been left frustrated over Chief Constable Jo Farrell's refusal to meet them, branding her "callous".

Detective Chief Superintendent Suzanne Chow, the strategic senior investigating officer now in charge of the case, previously defended her boss in an interview with Sky News, saying Ms Farrell instead wants the detective and family liaison officers to rebuild the broken relationship.

In an interview with Sky News' Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies this week, Mr Wilson's 24-year-old son Andrew said he still suffers "nightmares" from seeing his dying dad on the doorstep of the family home.

He said: "I blanked out a lot of my childhood memories."

During First Minister's Questions on Thursday, former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross asked First Minister John Swinney if he would meet the Wilsons.

Mr Swinney noted it was a live police investigation and an operational matter for the chief constable over her decision not to meet the family.

But the first minister added: "I would be prepared to meet with Mrs Wilson and her family to hear of their anguish.

"There will be a limit to what I can do, but if it provides any assistance and support to the family that the first minister is prepared to listen to their concerns, then I'm prepared to do that."

Mr Wilson was shot at his home in Crescent Road, Nairn, and later died in hospital.

He had been reading bedtime stories to his two young sons after their evening bath when a man knocked on their front door.

When Mr Wilson's wife Veronica answered, the killer asked for his victim by name.

A blue envelope, which had the name Paul on it, was handed to Mr Wilson on the doorstep.

Mr Wilson went inside briefly, but when he returned to the door he was shot.

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To date, no one has ever been charged with Mr Wilson's murder.

The handgun used in the murder, which was found days later, was a Haenel Suhl pocket pistol from the 1930s.

(c) Sky News 2024: Alistair Wilson murder: Scotland's First Minister John Swinney prepared to meet family of banker gunned down on doorstep in 2004