body of 27-year-old found in streetvictim’s family appeal for witnesses
Inverness murder inquiry – two men face court today
Published:
Two men are due to appear in court today after a man died in an Inverness street at the weekend.
The body of 27-year-old Mark Connor was discovered in the city’s Merkinch district in the early hours of Saturday following reports of a disturbance.
Northern Constabulary officers later arrested two men, aged 22 and 25. They will appear in private at Inverness Sheriff Court today in connection with the death.
It was the third murder inquiry in six months to be launched in the city’s Merkinch/South Kessock areas.
Mr Connor stayed at Millerton Avenue, Inverness.
Last night his family issued an appeal through Northern Constabulary urging people to come forward if they had information about his death.
The statement said: “The family, partner and close friends of Mark Connor wish to pass their thanks to all those who supported them at this very difficult time. They ask that anyone with any information regarding Mark's death, please contact the police and also ask that they be left in peace to grieve their tragic and untimely loss.”
Over the weekend, police made door-to-door inquiries close to where Mr Connor’s body was found in the street at Abbey Court, near the Dunabban Road flats.
The alarm was raised at 4am when a woman dialled 999 asking for an ambulance after she witnessed part of an incident.
Paramedics transported Mr Connor to Raigmore Hospital after discovering him on the driveway of 37 Abbey Court, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Inverness area commander for Northern Constabulary, Chief Inspector Julian Innes, said: “This is an isolated incident and that’s the way we are treating it.”
Chief Insp Innes said police officers, including forensic teams, were making a thorough search of the area.
They were also interviewing the woman who raised the alarm.
And he said at least two people heard shouting at the time of the incident around 4am.
Scene-of-crime and forensic officers remained at the scene which was cordoned off yesterday. Thirty officers are working on the case. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information relating to it should contact police in Inverness on 01463 715555.
Local councillor Donnie Kerr, who lives about 20yards from the scene, said it was extremely “worrying.”
Mr Kerr added: “ It is very sad that this has happened again.”
Councillor Bet McAllister, who represents Inverness Central, added: “It’s sad to hear of another death. It affects everybody in the whole area. It must be very worrying for the residents.”
The latest tragedy comes just three months after 17-year-old Joshua Mitchell was allegedly stabbed to death just yards from his home in the neighbouring area of South Kessock.
And in December last year a man was charged with the murder of mother-of-two Mary Polus after she was found dead in her flat in the same area of the city.
Joshua Mitchell’s neighbour, Alan Dewar, of 43 Carnarc Crescent, has been charged with his murder.
Francis Flannigan, 46, of 6 Blackpark Avenue, Invergordon, has been charged with murdering Ms Polus and is in custody awaiting trial.
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