Police follow new leads after Crimewatch appeal

Officers investigating the murder of pensioner Brian McKandie say they have had an “encouraging” response to a nationwide TV appeal on the BBC’s Crimewatch.

Mr McKandie was beaten to death in a brutal attack at his home in Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire, on March 11. His body was found the following day.

Officers have spoken to hundreds of people and undertaken one of the biggest forensic investigations in Police Scotland history but have yet to identify the culprit.

It was revealed earlier this month that DNA evidence was found at the 67-year-old’s Fairhome, but no arrests have been made.

Mr McKandie’s brother Bill made an appeal on Crimewatch on Monday. He said: “Somebody somewhere knows what happened. If they are going to keep the secret now, it’s easier to come forward and tell the police or you’ve got to the keep the secret forever.”

Mr McKandie spoke of his struggle to move on while waiting for justice for his brother’s murder, saying he “always thinks about what happened” every day.

Crimestoppers has offered a reward of up to £10,000 for information leading to a conviction.