Police investigators have confirmed they have a good idea of the weapon used to murder an Aberdeenshire mechanic in his home.
Brian McKandie was found at his cottage in Badenscoth, near Rothienorman, on Saturday, March 12 having been killed with a heavy weapon.
Police are continuing to probe the murder, saying earlier this week there were still “gaps” in the well-known handyman’s last movements.
Detective Chief Inspector Iain Smith – who is at the helm of the investigation into Mr McKandie’s death – said: “We haven’t recovered the weapon, but I do have some ideas around the type of weapon that was probably used.
“[As to] where it has been disposed of – I don’t know. I’d just like to appeal for people to come forward, especially those individuals who think somebody else will come forward, and people have been doing that.”
He added more than 900 homes had now been visited as part of the investigations.
Locals described Mr McKandie as a handyman who could fix anything and who was a “cracking bloke”.
Officers believe the 67-year-old was killed on Friday, March 11.
Det Ch Insp Smith added: “We are as busy today as we were on the first week. We continue working to the same level we did in the first week. It is the same with our officers who are continuing with the forensic examination of the house.
“That is six weeks now that we have been doing this, and it is a pain-staking process.
“We are still visiting houses in and around the area and we have carried out upwards of 900 property visits, that will continue throughout the course of May.
“Inquiries are carrying on in terms of all aspects of Mr McKandie’s movements on the day we believe he died.
“We have got a good idea of his movements on Friday 11, but there are gaps we are missing (such as) some individuals that visited him on that day.”
Yesterday, Det Chief Insp Smith said his “best theory” on the murderer was that he was someone known to Mr McKandie.
He added: “I can’t deny the fact we have got an individual who has murdered Mr McKandie still walking the streets and that is a concern.”
