No to £25,000 compo.I want cops to admit their mistake over my baby sister’s death
Devastated brother plans legal action if police don’t review case
A GRIEVING brother has rejected a £25,000 compensation offer from Police Scotland after officers withheld evidence over his sister’s death.
Toddler Alexina Kelbie, two, died of a head injury suffered while living with foster parents in 1960.
Officers failed to establish criminality in the original investigation.
However, post-mortem images unearthed 46 years later revealed Alexina was assaulted, and a review concluded that information was withheld from her family.
Police offered £25,000 and said officers demonstrated “poor judgment”.
Peter, 59, yesterday branded the compensation offer “insulting” and demanded a public inquiry.
He said: “We are talking about the death of my baby sister and how she died.
“The police have said withholding crucial evidence was a ‘bad judgment’.
“What I have said is that I believe they are negligent.
“They had evidence that she was assaulted for decades and they should have arrested those responsible.
“I’ve said no to the £25,000. I need them to come back and admit their error so we can finally put this to rest.”
Alexina and her siblings, who were of Romany Gypsy heritage, were taken into care amid negligence claims.
She remained in her foster home in Dundee, despite the rest of her family being reunited.
The toddler died of an intracranial haemorrhage after being taken to hospital by her foster mother from her home on August 31, 1960.
The initial probe suggested the injury was self-inflicted as the youngster had been prone to banging her head to cope with the pain caused by a previous arm fracture.
Alexina’s dad Alexander Campbell died in 1966, and mum Betty Stewart in 1975.
Peter, who now lives in Gretna, only learned of his sister’s existence and death in 1983 and embarked on a campaign to find out what happened to her.
Reviews were carried out at his request by Tayside Police in 1988, 1993 and 2006.
The detective in charge of the 1988 review concluded Alexina’s death had been fully investigated at the time. The 1993 review showed physical abuse was investigated but the post-mortem did not provide evidence.
In 2006, Peter asked to see police files on Alexina’s case, prompting a further review.
A detective then found photos of Alexina’s body taken prior to post mortem.
Dundee University pathologist Professor Derrick Pounder said they showed bruising all over her body.
The police response said the overall pattern of injuries was “assaultive and could not be explained by a simple fall or even a complex fall”.
It added that the professor was “unable to establish a causal link between the assault and her death”.
Notes in the 2006 review file say this information was withheld from the family.
They were offered £25,000 compensation on the basis that Police Scotland admitted this was “of bad judgment”.
Peter now plans to seek legal action against the police if officers don’t agree to review the case again.
He said: “Had they not concealed these photographs in the first place, an investigation could have taken place to find those responsible. It’s as simple as that.
“I have dedicated my life to my baby sister and we won’t give up until we have justice for Alexina.”
Superintendent Lorna Ferguson, of the police’s Professional Standards Department, said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on any financial settlement offer.
“We also advised Mr Kelbie that, should he be unsatisfied with how his complaint has been handled, he can request an independent review.”