The parents of a Moray teenager who was found dead 24 years ago have demanded a fresh police inquiry into what happened to their son with a dossier of evidence presented officers.
The body of Neil Riddel’s body was found in a field one mile from the family home at Aultmore, near Keith, in July 1991, but his family have never accepted the official view that the 19-year-old apprentice blacksmith died after committing suicide.
His mother Margaret, father Ian and brother maintain that Mr Riddel died while in police custody and was later dumped in the rural spot.
The family recently wrote to the chief constable of Police Scotland, Sir Stephen House, outlining their years of struggle over their unanswered questions.
This week, the Riddel family received a response from Police Scotland to confirm that Deputy Chief Constable, Iain Livingstone, was considering the information.
Margaret Riddel, 76, said she was determined to learn the full circumstances surrounding her son’s death.
Mrs Riddel said: “We sent that letter to the police explaining exactly how we believe Neil died, and we can prove everything that is in it.
“After all this time folk who we believe have some involvement have died.
“We would think the new Police Scotland should not have any problem looking into it.
“The police know my age, and they know my husband is 83, so I think they just want to leave it in the hope that soon enough we’ll pop off.
“That’s the way I see it, but I’m not ready to pop off just yet.”
In the dossier, the family list several perceived inconsistencies surrounding his death and the following investigation.
Mrs Riddel said her son’s time of death was stated as 7.30pm on July 19, but that he was spotted in Keith hours later.
In the months before his death, Mr Riddel had formally complained against two Keith police officers who had assaulted him, the mother added.
The family also claimed Mr Riddel’s face was badly bruised when his body was discovered and that they were not allowed to view him in his coffin.
Neil Riddel’s 46-year-old brother, Ian, believes police will have to act on the information supplied.
He said: “The police should have no option but to investigate the information we have given them, it’s all there in black and white.
“We have presented police with enough details to charge the parties involved with this, and we believe they should be charged now.”
A police spokesman said: “We take all complaints very seriously, and thoroughly investigate each case.
“We are aware of the correspondence between Police Scotland and the Riddel family, and are looking into the matter with a view to the family in due course.”
A sheriff presented a verdict of suicide after a post-mortem examination.
A fatal accident inquiry was held at the family’s request in 1992 and police reviewed the case in 1998.
In 2008 a review of the circumstances of Mr Riddel’s death backed the initial verdict that it was suicide caused by a probable anti-depressant overdose.