£10,000 murder inquiry reward
Police appeal for information to help solve killing of pensioner
A £10,000 reward is being offered for information one week on from the murder of a pensioner whose body was found at his home.
Malcolm Ballantyne was discovered dead by a family member in Glebe Place, Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, at about 1.10pm last Friday.
The 72-year-old, known as Malky, was well-known in the area and has been described as a wellliked and well-respected member of the community.
Detectives, who are yet to establish a motive, have returned to the scene of the murder in an effort to jog the memories of potential witnesses.
The charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of £10,000 for information that secures the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.
Leading the inquiry, Detective Chief Inspector Gary Cunningham, of Police Scotland’s major investigation team, said: “It has now been a week since Mr Ballantyne was brutally murdered in his own home and at this time we have nothing to suggest a particular motive for the attack.
“I am confident that the answers to what happened to Mr Ballantyne lie within the local community and it is vitally important that anyone with information contacts us immediately.
“Mr Ballantyne was an upstanding member of the community and his family as well as those who knew him have been left devastated by this horrendous crime.
“They deserve to know who is responsible for his death and why.”
Detectives want to hear from anyone who was near Glebe Place in the hours running up to when Mr Ballantyne was discovered who might have seen something suspicious.
They also want to speak to anyone who was in his company on the day before his death.
Mr Cunningham added: “You may think what you know is insignificant but let us be the judge of that as no matter how minor your information is it could be that criti- cal piece that helps lead us to whoever is responsible.”
Angela Parker, Crimestoppers national manager for Scotland, said: “Malcolm was a well-liked, well-respected man and this is why we and the police are at a loss as to why someone would have committed this callous crime.”
The full reward will only apply for information passed directly to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via an anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
Police have also set up a dedicated telephone line on 01563 505172 or text 07437 942153.