Police facing probe into harbour death case... 21 years on
SCOTLAND’S most senior prosecutor has ordered an independent review into the police investigation of a mysterious death.
The body of Kevin McLeod, 24, was pulled from Wick Harbour in Caithness on February 9, 1997.
He was last seen alive in the early hours of February 8, after a night out with friends.
It was later ruled he had drowned after suffering internal injuries.
At the time, local 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.
Now, Lord Advocate James Wolffe, QC, has instructed a specialist Crown Office team to carry out a review of the police investigation of Mr McLeod’s death.
The move comes following Police Scotland’s ‘unreserved apology’ to his parents, Hugh and June, over the botched initial investigation.
Following a private meeting with the couple in Wick in December last year, Acting Chief Constable Iain Livingstone admitted that, after reassessing the case failures and looking at the evidence still available, the force was unable to say if Mr McLeod’s death was criminal or accidental.
He added: ‘There is no doubt that basic policing procedures were never carried out and the opportu- nity to gather vital evidence was missed.
‘Legacy policing services undoubtedly failed this family and I am further disappointed that their complaints were treated in a dismissive manner in the years which followed Kevin’s death.’
In a letter to Mr McLeod’s parents, the Lord Advocate said: ‘I can assure you that should any new evidence be brought to the attention of the procurator fiscal, this will be fully considered and any appropriate action taken.’
Police are also conducting fresh inquiries after a new witness came forward at the start of the year.
The man, whose identity has not been revealed, said that he had remained silent for nearly 21 years because he had been too afraid to come forward.
He has said that two other men were with Mr McLeod at the time of his death and that he heard ‘a commotion, voices and scuffling, then a splash’. He claims he was then ‘chased’ from the harbour, having seen Mr McLeod in the water.
Detective Chief Superintendent Gareth Blair, Police Scotland’s head of major crime, said: ‘We note the Lord Advocate’s decision and will assist with the independent review. Police Scotland are actively investigating new evidence provided by the family.
‘However, at this time the death remains unexplained. Our sympathies remain with Kevin’s family and we would again appeal for anyone with information to come forward.’
A spokesman for the McLeods said: ‘The family are relieved that, after 21 years fighting for justice, the Lord Advocate has instructed a thorough and independent review of the circumstances and events surrounding Kevin’s unsolved death.
‘Now is the time for police to finally practise what they preach, to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but truth.
‘We are hopeful this review will finally answer so many unanswered questions. This response from the Lord Advocate has given the family some encouragement and optimism justice will finally prevail.’
‘Unreserved apology’