A senior detective has stunned a family by concluding that severe internal injuries received by a Wick man shortly before he died were the result of an accident.
Detective Superintendent Ralph Noble, the recently-appointed Northern Constabulary head of crime, was responding to information provided by the family which they claim supports their belief that 24-year-old Kevin McLeod was murdered.
The officer further makes clear that, as far as Northern Constabulary and the fiscal service are concerned, no evidence of crime has been uncovered and the case is closed.
The McLeod family is demanding another force looks into Mr McLeod’s 1997 death.
The family’s suspicions of foul play followed a post-mortem examination which found he had suffered severe abdominal injuries shortly before ending up in Wick harbour.
They believe Mr McLeod was left helpless on the quayside after a savage beating by three men.
At a fatal accident inquiry, Sheriff Ian Cameron found the injuries could have been incurred by an assault or by an accidental fall.
In his response to the family, Mr Noble appears to rule out any dubiety however.
He stated: “I must advise that all matters of medical opinion... records that the injuries were sustained accidentally.
“This is in keeping with the outcome of all inquiries, investigations and judicial examinations carried out to date.”
Mr Noble said no evidence of foul play has been found and no fresh police investigation was planned.
Mr Noble has meanwhile referred the family’s new complaints about how police carried out the investigation into Mr McLeod’s death to Deputy Chief Constable Garry Sutherland.
He has also referred evidence provided by the family about a man suspected of being involved in Mr McLeod’s death to the fiscal’s service.
Mr McLeod’s parents Hugh and June McLeod and his uncle Allan McLeod are angry.
Allan McLeod said the family is also dumbfounded by Mr Noble’s view that Kevin’s injuries were the result of an accident.