The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Still no plans for action over T in the Park death despite probe
Reveller’s death remains a mystery two years after his body was found at farm in Perthshire
Prosecutors are still considering action over the death of a T in the Park reveller more than two years ago.
The Crown has yet to rule on a report on Jim Richardson, whose body was found at a remote farm in Perthshire after the 2016 Strathallan Castle music festival.
The circumstances around his death, particularly Police Scotland’s initial response, were investigated by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.
The force watchdog submitted its report to the Crown Office at the beginning of January 2017.
Now more than two years since Mr Richardson’s death, the prosecution service has revealed it is still contemplating Pirc’s findings and has yet to make a decision.
A spokesman said: “We have received a report from the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner concerning their investigation into the death of James Richardson in the Forteviot area on July 12 2016. The report remains under consideration.”
Pathologists found the 29-yearold had almost certainly taken drugs before he died.
Mr Richardson was on a bus home from the festival on Monday July 11 when it stopped on the A9, near Auchterarder.
He got off for a cigarette at around 2.30pm but did not get back on board.
Mr Richardson texted his wife Samantha, at the family home in Wishaw, to say he had been left at the roadside with his belongings.
He was found dead several miles away at Wester Cairnie Farm, near Forteviot, the following morning.
His death initially baffled police, who said he appeared to have no noticeable injuries. An post mortem examination concluded the track engineer died at 9.50am on July 12 and that his death was “presumed drug- related”.
Mr Richardson was the third drugs death linked to the 2016 T in the Park festival.
The following year’s gathering was scrapped following a spate of problems at its Strathallan Castle home.
DF Concerts boss Geoff Ellis, who has since focused his energy on the new TRNSMT festival at Glasgow Green, has suggested he may create a new camping event some time in the future but there are no plans to resurrect T in the Park.