A top level internal police probe has been launched by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland into the handling of the mysterious death of a 24-year-old electrician at Wick Harbour 21 years ago.
Police Scotland last week revealed homicide detectives were now working on the case where Kevin Mcleod drowned at the Caithness port after suffering serious internal injuries.
His family firmly believe Kevin was murdered in the early hours of February 8, 1997, although police have only ever described the death as “unexplained”.
Parents Hugh and June Mcleod have led an ongoing campaign to seek justice for their son, and in December the country’s top policeman, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Livingston, offered them an unreserved apology for serious failings in the investigation, conceding officers missed the opportunity to gather vital evidence.
He admitted that the legacy force Northern Constabulary failed to act on a formal instruction from the procurator fiscal to investigate the death as murder.
Kevin’s family have written to the HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Derek Penman, seeking an urgent review of the case, claiming there was a “massive injustice and gross dereliction of duty by police of deliberately disobeying the Crown’s specific instruction to investigate Kevin’s death as murder, which police recently admitted, and destroying his clothing during what should have been a murder enquiry”.
In response, Derek Penman said: “I have committed to look into the issues you have raised and get back to you both as soon as practicable.
“I consider it important to provide you with an informed response and have therefore tasked one of my lead inspectors to review your previous contact with HMICS over the last 20 years.
“I have also requested contact with Police Scotland to understand the action they have recently taken, which led them to apologise to you and your family.”
Last week, on the 21st anniversary of the tragedy, Police Scotland and Kevin’s family renewed an appeal for information relating to the death.
Detective Superintendent James Smith revealed homicide detectives were now working on the case.
A sheriff ruled an open verdict on the death during a fatal accident inquiry in 1998, saying foul play could not be ruled out.
Last month a new witness came forward describing a “commotion and scuffling” at Wick Harbour moments before Kevin entered the water and drowned.
Parents Hugh and June Mcleod said: “Kevin’s horrific and untimely death has torn our family apart.
“We firmly believe that there are people within Wick and the wider community who perhaps witnessed or knows what happened, and who was involved with Kevin’s death.”
