Complaints over death probe referred to procurator fiscal
parents of wick man launch latest move in campaign
Published:
RECENTLY submitted complaints about alleged police blunders in their investigation of the death of a young Wick man have been referred to the Highland area procurator fiscal.
Hugh and June McLeod have highlighted four issues surrounding the death of their son Kevin that they believe should result in officers being brought to book for perverting the course of justice.
The current action is the latest launched in the family’s relentless campaign to prove that the death at Wick harbour in February 1997 was not the result of an accident.
They are certain the 24-year-old was savagely beaten up before ending up at the bottom of the harbour after a night out in the town.
The McLeods point to conflicting versions over what became of Kevin’s clothing and also accuse police of failing to take basic steps to check out their theory that the young man fell against lobster creels on a boat on his way into the water.
The family also takes police to task for allegedly failing to act on information that someone they suspect to have been involved in Kevin’s death was on home leave from prison on the weekend of the death.
The family further wants to know why the pathologist who carried out the post-mortem examination was apparently not told by police that Kevin had been the victim of an assault.
The family this week learned that a preliminary report on their complaints has been drawn up by Chief Inspector Andrew MacLean, head of Northern Constabulary’s professional standards and conduct unit.
It has been referred to Andrew Laing, the Highlands and islands area procurator fiscal, as in all cases where officers are alleged to have committed a crime.
Should Mr Laing believe there is a case to be answered, he will pass the file to the Crown Office. Otherwise, the force would decide whether or not the complaints warrant internal misconduct proceedings.
Mr McLeod said yesterday: “We suspect there was a deliberate attempt by individual police officers connected with Kevin’s case to defeat the ends of justice.”
The family is meanwhile continuing its campaign to have an updated probe into the circumstances of Kevin’s death carried out by another force.
Northern’s Chief Constable Ian Latimer has consistently defended the integrity of his officers and maintained that no evidence of criminality has emerged over Kevin’s death.
