GIVE US HOPE. GIVE US JUSTICE
Family in plea over son’s harbour death
Scotland’s top legal officer has been urged to open a probe into the mysterious death of a man in a harbour.
Kevin McLeod’s death in 1997 was put down by police as an accident despite a post mortem finding he suffered internal injuries consistent with a violent attack.
Kevin’s parents June and Hugh believe he was murdered and have accused the police of a cover-up.
A fatal accident inquiry recorded an open verdict but in 2009, two witnesses told relatives the electrician, 24, was in a fight with an off-duty officer before being found in Wick harbour, Caithness.
SNP MSP Gai l Ross has asked the Lord Advocate to consider a fresh probe.
The Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP said: “To lose a child in any circumstances is heartbreaking. I understand why they want this case to be looked at again.”
In her letter to the Lord Advocate – also sent to Justice Secretary Michael Matheson – Ross noted that, in 2007, the then chief constable of Northern Constabulary was told to apologise to Kevin’s parents.
The apology came after a Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland concluded the force had behaved with “institutional arrogance” in the way they handled earlier complaints.
Kevin’s uncle Al l an McLeod said: “This case must go down as one of the most shameful episodes in the history of policing in Scotland.
“We pray the Lord Advocate has a heart and can see the injustice and heartache we have endured at the hands of the police, and hope he instructs police to finally conduct a murder inquiry as initially instructed.”
The Crown Off ice said that should further evidence come to light it would be fully considered.