The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
The family of tragic Fifer Colin Marr
are pursuing Police Scotland for answers over his death in Lochgelly six years ago. Parents Stuart and Margaret Graham have pledged to keep fighting for justice after what they claim was a botched investigation —
THE FAMILY of Colin Marr, pictured, are pursuing the police for answers over his death in Lochgelly six years ago.
Parents Stuart and Margaret Graham have pledged to keep fighting for justice after what they claim was a botched investigation.
Because of failings in the initial probe, no one has been able to prove what happened on July 10 2007, when the 23-year-old died from a single stab wound through the heart.
The former Fife Constabulary initially treated the death as suicide — an explanation the family have never accepted.
Subsequent investigations were inconclusive because evidence was lost at the outset.
The Grahams are now hoping the single Scottish force can make officers involved accountable.
Mr Graham said Police Scotland was dealing with the family’s complaints, and he is set to meet a senior officer of the force in the coming weeks.
“With Police Scotland there’s an opportunity here to take a different approach.
“We have got to trust the people in front of us,” said Mr Graham.
“We want more than an apology — we want action taken.”
He continued: “We’re in a position where we’ve had no justice.
“There are individuals who lost that for us, and not just on the night.
“The Crown Office admitted their officers didn’t do enough, but Fife police did not.
“They don’t admit the failings of their organisation.”
It is almost six years to the day since Colin’s untimely death following an argument with his girlfriend.
Colin had lived in Lochgelly for two years, worked in Livingston as a mortgage consultant and was a keen fan of Dunfermline Athletic FC. His ashes were scattered at East End Park in a ceremony conducted by club chaplain Pastor Jimmy Dowds.
Following a fatal accident inquiry at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Sheriff Principal Alastair Dunlop QC was unable to determine who had delivered the fatal blow.
The Crown’s position was that neither homicide nor death by a self-inflicted wound, whether deliberate or accidental, could be proved because of insufficient evidence.
After a sustained campaign by the family for a fresh probe into Colin’s death, Strathclyde Police were brought in last year to carry out an independent investigation. The Strathclyde investigation failed to yield a prosecution but the case remains open.
Mr Graham told The Courier he had not given up hope of securing justice for his son.
He said: “There are areas they could not go into because of the previous failures.
“The investigation is concluded and will be reviewed on a regular basis by police and the Crown.
“From a legal point of view, I don’t believe the Crown or police will prosecute.
“As it stands, we want to get justice and we will never give up. We believe there are people out there who know things.”