New appeal one year on over pensioner’s murder

● Officers revisit witnesses ● Verges searched

Police investigating the murder of a pensioner have again appealed for information almost one year after his death.

Brian Mckandie, 67, was attacked at his home in Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire, on 11 March 2016 and was found dead the following day.

As part of the ongoing investigation, officers have been revisiting customers and acquaintances of the selfemployed mechanic and began searches of road verges. 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.

Detective Chief Inspector Iain Smith said: “We continue to actively investigate the death of Mr Mckandie with extensive inquiries being carried out not just in the Rothienorman area, but across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

“Customers and acquaintances are being revisited, along with exploring other potential lines of inquiry.

“Next month will mark one year since Brian was found withinhishome,whichmeans a whole year his family have had to deal with the fact he was taken from them in the most tragic of circumstances.”

It was revealed in December that officers are keen to trace the author of an anonymous letter received in the weeks following the attack which provided some information regarding the death of Mr Mckandie.

Police are also trying to trace a lone man who was seen walking near to the pensioner’s Fairview Cottages home around the time and date of his death.

The man is described as about 6ft, of an average or medium-sized build, and was wearing dark clothing and possibly a hat.

He was walking towards the nearby village of Rothienorman shortly before 1am on Saturday 12 March.

Officers are also keen to trace a burgundy or maroon estate car and two people who were seen in the area of Mr Mckandie’s home, around the date of his death.

One of the men is aged 40-50, of heavy build with dark hair while the younger man was thought to be around 20-30, thin with blonde hair, possibly collar length. The men and the car were seen at Mr Mckandie’s address between 1:30pm and 2pm on 11 March.

Detectives believe Mr Mckandie was killed with a “heavy weapon” and said the murderer’s clothes would have been blood-stained.