Man, 23, charged

Police: Suspect detained after year-long probe into the death of pensioner

Aman will appear in court on Monday charged in connection with the murder of north-east pensioner Brian McKandie.

The 23-year-old, named locally as Steven Sidebottom, was arrested by officers on Thursday afternoon.

A man has been charged in connection with t he murder of Aberdeenshire pensioner Brian McKandie.

The 23-year-old, named locally as Steven Sidebottom, was detained and charged by police after an 11-month murder inquiry.

A self-employed mechanic, 67-year-old Mr McKandie lived at his cottage in Badenscoth, just north of the village of Rothienorman, for 65 years.

He was known in the region as a reliable handyman, and repaired cars, washing machines and televisions.

He had customers from all across the north-east of Scotland, from Aberdeen to Peterhead.

He was found dead in his homeonMarch 12 last year, after police responded to a concerned associate of Mr McKandie who was having trouble contacting him.

Initially, the death was treated as unexplained, but after a post-mortem examination, a murder investi- gation was launched. During the last year, policehave carried out interviews with hundreds of residents, mo- torists, friends and former customers of Mr McKandie.

But, throughout the course of the extensive investigation, police were faced with significant challenges in tracking down clues.

A lack of CCTV images and witnesses created a difficult situation for detectives seeking reliable evidence.

However, a number of positive leads emerged towards the end of last year.

The investigation has become one of the largest forensic searches in Police Scotland’s history.

Earlier this week, officers announced they were carrying out further searches of vergesonrural roadsand tracks around Rothienorman.

And on Thursday evening, officers announced they had detained a 23-year-old man.

Yesterday afternoon, a heavy police presence could be seen around a farm just south of Rothienorman.

A patch of land close to the farmhouse was cordoned off by police tape, and specialist investigators in white forensic suits could be seen examining the area.

A report has now been submitted to the procurator fiscal, andthemanis expected to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Monday.

Detective Chief Inspector Iain Smith, of the police’s major investigation team, has been in charge of the operation since the

“This has been a complex probe involving significant resources”

Brian McKandie was found dead at his home at Badenscoth north of Rothienorman in March last year after a friend contacted the police

Police officer at a farm where forensics officers were seen carrying out searches