Nairn banker Alistair Wilson’s son is ‘still haunted by nightmares’ 20 years on
By Lucinda Cameron
The son of a banker who was shot on his doorstep has said he still has nightmares about his father’s murder.
Andrew Wilson, then aged four, saw his father Alistair lying in a pool of blood after he was shot in Nairn on November 28, 2004.
He told how he has blanked out many of his childhood memories as a way of dealing with what happened.
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In September, Scotland’s top law officer Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC ordered a complete reinvestigation of the case with a new team of police officers and prosecutors.
Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell has said officers have a “resolute determination” to solve the murder but the Wilson family has questioned whether she is fit to lead the force.
Andrew said he is haunted by what happened on that day just over 20 years ago.
He told Sky News: “All I saw was my dad on the floor in a pool of his own blood. My mum over him. I still get the image of my dad, himself, in nightmares and stuff from time to time.
“I blanked out a lot of my childhood memories, that was my way of dealing with it, just kind of closing the door on that kind of part of my life.”
Alistair was shot at about 7pm on after a man called at the family’s home in Crescent Road, spoke to his wife Veronica, who had answered the door, and asked for her husband by name.
The 30-year-old went downstairs to speak to the man and was handed a blue envelope with the word “Paul” on it.
He went inside briefly and then returned to the door for a second time where he was shot and died later that evening in hospital.
The gun, a Haenel Suhl pocket pistol from the 1930s, was recovered from a drain near his home 10 days after his murder.
After the reinvestigation was launched, the family said they have lost confidence in the police.
Asked by Sky News whether Ms Farrell should resign over the issue, Andrew told the broadcaster: “There’s no other option. I felt that if she can’t get a grasp of what’s going on, then how can she lead?”
Speaking at a Scottish Police Authority Board meeting on Thursday, November 28, Ms Farrell said she wanted to acknowledge the 20th anniversary of Mr Wilson’s murder, as the force made a fresh appeal for information.
She said: “A new investigation team is in place and detectives will examine evidence gathered over the last 20 years, as well as investigate new opportunities for fresh lines of inquiry such as advantages in technology and forensic testing.
“We are committed to this reinvestigation and I would underline our support of Alistair’s family and our resolute determination to bring those involved in Alistair’s murder to justice.”
Asked outside the meeting whether she would be resigning, Ms Farrell told Sky News: “I won’t be resigning. I am committed to us getting answers and finding the people responsible for the murder.”
Police have launched a public portal where people can submit information about the murder which can be accessed at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/96HO020108N02-PO1.
Police Scotland has been asked if they wish to make further comment.
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