New dossier clues to banker murder
Shooting mystery now solvable, says crime expert
ALMOST from the moment a killer shot Alistair Wilson three times, it has been one of Scotland’s most baffling unsolved murders.
But now, 13 years after the banker was gunned down on his doorstep, a top criminologist has claimed the case is ‘eminently solvable’.
Professor David Wilson received a dossier from an anonymous sender that examines the case in detail – and suggests Mr Wilson was likely killed by someone working for an underworld figure to whom he owed money.
The father of two was shot dead in the evening of November 28, 2004, after the gunman knocked his door in Nairn.
His wife Veronica answered and the killer asked for Mr Wilson, 30, by name. After a few minutes of conversation the gunmen opened fire, then fled.
Despite an extensive police inquiry, no one has ever been charged with the murder. But Professor Wilson yesterday told BBC Radio Scotland about information sent to his office at Birmingham City University.
A copy of the same dossier, from a sender identified only as Nate, was sent to the Scottish Daily Mail.
It highlights strands of evidence first revealed many years ago but which are often missing from latterday press reports on the murder.
One is the fact an envelope the killer handed Mr Wilson on his doorstep had the name ‘Paul’ written on it. Another is the existence of a witness who believes he saw the killer heading to the murder scene.
Community councillor Tommy Hogg said he thought he had travelled on the same bus as the gunman and watched him get off near Mr Wilson’s address. He recalled: ‘I kept looking at him and he kept looking away. Every time I caught his eye, he would pull his collar up.’
The ‘armchair detective’ behind the dossier believes Mr Wilson may have received a loan via ‘unofficial channels’, and suggests a deal with underworld figures turned sour.
Professor Wilson told the John Beattie show: ‘I’d always previously assumed this was a master hitman who carried out this particular crime and the case would be unsolvable.
‘Because of what the package contains, if it is accurate, I now think it is eminently solvable.’
The professor questioned why police had not produced an e-fit of the killer if two witnesses – Mr Wilson’s wife and Mr Hogg – had seen him, and whether a forensic accountant looked at Mr Wilson’s clients.
Mrs Wilson saw a stocky man, 3540, wearing a dark jacket and baseball cap.
Her husband was handed an envelope, took it inside and spoke to her briefly before returning to the door. He was shot and died in hospital that night. The gun was found in a drain nearby ten days later.
Last night, Detective Superintendent Gary Cunningham said: ‘The investigation into the murder of Alistair Wilson remains open.
‘A significant amount of work was done to identify all individuals in the vicinity of the murder and we have taken over 3,500 statements.’
He added: ‘There is limited detail available about the facial features of the suspect... there is not sufficient information to produce an e-fit.’
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or 0131 311 5916, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.