Modern DNA testing could finally catch gunman who killed banker
ADVANCeS in DNA technology could finally help solve the murder of banker Alistair Wilson, police have revealed.
The 30-year-old was gunned down on his doorstep in Nairn on November 28, 2004, as he prepared to put his two sons to bed.
his murder remains unsolved, despite an extensive investigation.
Now police say they are preparing to rerun tests on items of evidence using advanced DNA techniques in a bid to track down the killer.
State of the art DNA24 technology introduced by Police Scotland in 2015 looks at 24 areas of a person’s DNA – up from the previous 11.
The force is now using the technology on ‘previously tested’ items in the hope of obtaining a DNA profile of the murderer. This could finally shed light on the case, which in 13 years has seen police fail to identify a suspect or confirm a motive.
An anonymous dossier compiled by an armchair sleuth recently suggested Mr Wilson, the manager of Bank of Scotland’s Beechwood Business Park branch in Inverness, had been killed over money owed to an underworld figure.
yesterday, on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the killing, Detective Superintendent Gary Cunningham said: ‘recently we have seen a number of theories and rumours put forward about the motive behind Alistair Wilson’s murder. Our investigation has previously looked into these theories. As part of a thorough ongoing investigation we have to remain open-minded and will continue to review all scenarios.
‘Additionally, we constantly review advances in forensic science. There has been significant investment in improving our DNA technologies in the last few years. With the advent of DNA24, we are now obtaining DNA profiles from items which, when previously tested, had not produced a profile. As such, we are continuing to review the items suitable for further testing in this case.
‘This crime has left a family devastated. Someone out there knows why Alistair was killed and who was involved in his murder and I would appeal to them to come forward.’
Mr Wilson’s wife Veronica said: ‘It would mean the world to us to have Alistair’s killer brought to justice. As a family, it has been difficult to understand why someone would do this. It has been a dark shadow over us for the past 13 years.
‘We will always remain hopeful that the person who killed Alistair will be caught and I would urge anyone who has information to come forward.’
Peter Bleksley, who spent 21 years with the Metropolitan Police, has been carrying out his own investigation as part of a book he is writing.
he says he has ‘a credible thread for a motive’ and believes the net is closing in on the killer.
he said: ‘If I was the perpetrator, I would be worried.’
‘The net is closing in on the killer’