Was banker shot dead over hotel decking row?

DETECTIVES investigating the murder of a banker shot dead on his doorstep believe a planning row may hold the key to finding his killer.

Alistair Wilson had objected to a decking area being built outside a hotel opposite his home shortly before his death in 2004.

Police Scotland officers are convinced Mr Wilson’s personal life, rather than his work at Bank of Scotland, will provide the answer to why he was murdered.

The father-of-two was shot dead on his doorstep in November 2004, just three days after the local authority had sent the Havelock Hotel in Nairn in the Highlands the details of his objections. He said the decking was causing noise and litter.

Detective Superintendent Graeme Mackie said: ‘We believe this could be significant to our inquiries and I am asking anyone with information about this issue to please come forward.’

Detectives travelled to Canada earlier this year to interview the hotel’s former owner, Andy Burnet. He said last week: ‘I’m not a suspect and I never have been.’