A key witness in the Alistair Wilson murder investigation has said he was “surprised” to be questioned by detectives in Canada earlier this year.
No motive has ever been uncovered for the fatal shooting of Mr Wilson on the doorstep of his Nairn home in 2004.
Officers from the major investigation team travelled to Nova Scotia to carry out witness interviews in February.
At the time, Detective Superintendent Graeme Mackie said: “More than 17 years have passed since Alistair was fatally shot on the doorstep of his home, but time is no barrier to justice.”
Assisting with police inquiries
Detectives spoke to Mr Wilson’s former friend and local landlord Andy Burnett, who was running the Havelock Hotel in 2004.
The 55-year-old moved to Windsor, Nova Scotia with his Canadian partner in 2013, and now works as a handyman.
Speaking to The Sun, he said: “We’re not hiding over here, but we’re trying to move on from this. It’s not something we want.
“We understand that Veronica has her own problems to deal with. Her sons are old enough to understand what was going on at the time.
“But times have changed. They are so different now.”
Mr Burnett shared that police spoke to him over video calls before flying out to Canada to spend four days going over his original statement.
They also spoke to him about another person who may have been in his circle of friends in Nairn, which Mr Burnett did not wish to discuss with The Sun.
He added: “If I’m able to help police with the inquiry because they have new information then I’ll help them.
“Somebody out there knows something and I’ll do whatever I can. I’m always here in any shape or form.”
An ongoing investigation
Last month, police confirmed they were looking to trace two men seen with a handgun on a Nairn beach just a month before Mr Wilson’s death.
Anyone who had seen the two men, one in his 20s and the other between 40 and 60, were asked to come forward.
Police said a witness had shared the potential sighting following recent publicity around the case.
This news followed an update from police on the description of the shooter after a review of information.
Investigators now believe the man was between 20 and 40 in 2004 – having originally estimated he was a decade older – and around 5ft 7ins, wearing a baseball cap and jacket.
What happened on night of murder?
Father-of-two Mr Wilson was shot at around 7pm on Sunday November 28, 2004 at his family’s home on Crescent Road in Nairn.
His wife answered the door and was asked to get him by name before he went to the door and was handed a blue envelope with the name “Paul” on it.
He briefly went back inside and then returned to the door for a second time when he was fatally shot.
The gun was found in a drainpipe 10 days later, and although it contained no clues, it remains a vital piece of evidence.
Anyone who believes they can assist police is asked to contact 101 quoting incident 515 of March 4 2022 and Operation Sorn or e-mail a dedicated inbox at SCDHOLMESAberdeen@scotland.pnn.police.uk