New witness is quizzed by detectives three times over mystery harbour death
DETECTIVES investigating the death of a man 21 years ago have interviewed a potential new witness three times.
The body of Kevin McLeod was pulled from Wick Harbour in the Caithness town on February 9, 1997.
The 24-year-old had drowned after suffering internal injuries and at the time, police said his death was accidental.
But his family believed he had been murdered and criticised the then Northern Constabulary for its handling of the case.
The new witness, whose identity has not been disclosed, previously said he had stayed silent for nearly 21 years because he had been too scared to come forward.
Officers have said the witness, highlighted by the family in January, has now given a comprehensive statement.
It is understood he told Mr McLeod’s relatives two men were with their son at the time of his death.
He claimed he was ‘chased’ from the harbour by one of the men, having seen Mr McLeod in the water.
The witness also said the young electrician died at a different part of the harbour from where police originally told the family he had been.
Police have said the information is being assessed, and further statements have been taken from other people.
Although other lines of investigation have been suggested by the family, they have not yielded any fresh evidence, according to officers.
Detective Chief Superintendent Gareth Blair said detectives have taken a ‘detailed and comprehensive’ statement from the witness after meeting him three times.
Mr Blair said: ‘I have instructed Police Scotland, Homicide Governance and Review (HGR) to assess the information provided by Kevin McLeod’s family.
‘Some of this information is historical and has previously been investigated and no evidence found, while others appear to be new lines of investigation, one of which is a potential new witness, highlighted by the family.
‘Since January 2018 officers from HGR have met this individual on three occasions and noted a detailed and comprehensive statement.’
He added: ‘Due to the passage of time, my officers have physically searched a number of police stations across the Police Scotland estate in an effort to recover any associated non-electronic documents that are relevant to the matters raised by the new witness.
‘The information from the new witness is subject to assessment which has resulted in statements being taken from related persons as well as engagement with independent experts in certain fields.
‘Police Scotland remain committed to investigating new information and will update Kevin McLeod’s family when there are developments.’
Last year Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone apologised for blunders which meant that the probe was not properly carried out.
He said there had been ‘serious failings’ on the part of the Northern Constabulary at the time, and police had missed ‘the opportunity to gather vital evidence’.
Mr McLeod was last seen in the early hours of February 8, 1997. His body was recovered from the water the next day.
‘New lines of investigation’