Merkinch death probe victim was a father of two

RESIDENTS in the Merkinch area of Inverness have been shocked by two sudden deaths over the weekend.

Police investigations are still ongoing into both incidents which they say are not linked.

The body of a 42-year-old man was found at an address in Carnarc Crescent last night in what police believe may have been a drugs related death.

He was named locally Alexander Chinskie, who has a 16-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son.

On Monday afternoon, several police vehicles were parked outside the house, including a dog section van.

Meanwhile, inquiries into the sudden death of a 38-year-old woman who was found dead on Saturday, also at an address in the Merkinch area, are still on-going.

Police have not named the woman until next of kin have been informed. However, residents said she died at a flat in the Moorings, Anderson Street, occupied by a local man and his son and described news of her death as being "terrible".

One resident, Annabel MacLennan (66), of Anderson Court, told the Highland

News: "I heard a woman had died and I saw the police there. The police van was hidden down the side of the building and the officers were carrying out searches.

"I don’t know who she is, but the guy that lives in the flat, Fraser, has a wee boy who goes to our church.

"It’s terrible to hear of news like this."

Northern Constabulary said her death is currently being treated as unexplained.

A force spokesman added that a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal and a post mortem examination will take place.

Police say the two deaths are not related.