Brother makes emotional plea for help as killer search goes on
Police looking for two men seen talking to victim
THE brother of a man found murdered in his remote home has said “somebody, somewhere” must know what happened as he paid tribute to the “hard-working” and “friendly” mechanic.
Brian McKandie, 67, was violently attacked before his body was discovered at the property in Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire, on Saturday, March 12.
Police have been carrying out searches for the weapon used in what they described as a “brutal murder”.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, William McKandie said “somebody, somewhere” must know what happened to his brother.
“It’s been almost two weeks since Brian died and it’s just been a total shock, especially as police believe that he was attacked,” he said.
“My sister and I are now left with questions about why someone would want to hurt him. What did they want?
“He was a 67-year-old man who lived alone, who worked hard as a self-employed mechanic and was friendly to anyone who spoke to him. How could someone do this to him?
“I would ask that if anyone thinks they have information about what happened to my brother, they may have seen something or heard something, to contact police.”
He added: “We are finding this whole situation really hard to come to terms with. We have lost our brother and we just want to know what happened and why.”
Earlier, police divers searched a stream near the victim’s home.
Detectives released an image showing Mr McKandie at a bank in Turriff on March 11.
They have also appealed for help to trace two men seen talking to him that day.
The men, one a heavy-set man in his 50s, the other younger, were spotted in the driveway of his home at Fairview Cottages, Badenscoth, between 1pm and 2pm.
They appeared to be beside a burgundy or maroon-coloured estate car which was parked in Mr McKandie’s driveway.
Officers previously made an appeal relating to two men seen talking to the victim at the later time of between 5pm and 6pm.
One was said to be in his 20s and the other slightly older, in his 30s or 40s.
Police believe Mr McKandie was attacked, with a weapon, at his home some time that day.
Detective Chief Inspector Iain Smith said: “It may be that the second set of men we are looking to speak to are the same as the first two or it could be another pair.
“However, we are appealing for these men to come forward or to anyone who may have seen them talking to Mr McKandie.”
He added: “This type of crime is highly unusual in the north east, but especially all the more rare in a rural community in Aberdeenshire, such as this.
“We have a dedicated team investigating this incident plus the assistance of a number of specialist officers and departments.
“However information from the public will be key to us solving this case.”
Mr Smith said it had been a “shocking” crime for the local community and “deeply upsetting” for Mr McKandie’s family.
“Brian’s brother and sister are obviously desperate for us to catch whoever has done this,” he added. DALE Bisset, six, prepares to hand out some of the 350 chocolate eggs donated by a recruitment firm to a playground for children with disabilities.
Candidates and clients of Head Resourcing, in Edinburgh, donated the Easter treats in aid of The Yard in the city, which offers play opportunities for children from the age of two.
It includes “teen” clubs, football groups and Saturday evening sessions for older teenagers.
Head Resourcing specialises in IT, digital and business change recruitment.
Picture: Gordon Terris