A full reinvestigation has been ordered into the murder of Alistair Wilson, a father of two, who was shot on his doorstep in Nairn, Scottish Highlands, nearly 20 years ago. The 30-year-old was killed on November 28, 2004, while his two young sons were inside the house. Despite multiple appeals and various lines of inquiry, no arrests have been made.

In 2023, Alistair Wilson’s family lodged a complaint with the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner regarding how the case had been handled. On Monday, Scotland’s Lord Advocate, Dorothy Bain KC, announced that a new team of prosecutors will collaborate with Police Scotland to reopen the investigation.

“This was a deeply disturbing crime that caused immense grief to Mr. Wilson’s family,” Bain stated. “Although significant efforts have been made over the years and a wealth of evidence collected, I believe it’s necessary to reexamine all aspects of the case. I sincerely hope this brings justice to Mr. Wilson’s family and peace to the community affected by this brutal crime.”

On the evening of November 28, 2004, Alistair Wilson’s wife, Veronica, answered a knock at the door of their Nairn home around 7 p.m. The man at the door asked for Alistair by name. After coming downstairs from reading a bedtime story to his children, Mr. Wilson was handed a blue envelope with “Paul” written on it. Following a brief conversation with his wife, he returned to the door, where he was fatally shot.

He was rushed to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness but died shortly afterward.

Over the years, police have pursued many lines of enquiry, but no one has been brought to justice. The suspect was described as stocky, 5’7” tall, aged between 20 and 40, and wearing a baseball cap and jacket. A week after the murder, the weapon—a vintage Czech-made automatic pistol—was found in a drain about a mile from the crime scene by a council road sweeper.

In 2022, Police Scotland conducted witness interviews in Nova Scotia, Canada, as part of their ongoing investigation. They believe the motive for Wilson’s murder was linked to his personal life rather than his job at the Bank of Scotland. One lead investigators highlighted was his opposition to a planning application for a large decking area outside the Havelock Hotel, directly opposite his home.

Detective Superintendent Graeme Mackie reiterated during the 18th anniversary of the murder that the case remains active, saying, “This crime has left a family devastated, and we are committed to finding answers and bringing the offender to justice.”

The reinvestigation aims to finally solve this long-unsolved case and deliver justice to the Wilson family.