Wick death review not be completed until 2021, family told
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THE investigation into the death of Wick man Kevin McLeod will not be competed until 2021, the family has been told.
It had been hoped the independent review by the Merseyside Police would be finished this month but it is now "likely to be extended into the new year".
The news disappointed Kevin's parents, Hugh and June McLeod, and his uncle Allan McLeod, but they remain "positive and hopeful" the investigation will give them the answers they have been fighting for more than two decades.
Kevin's body was found in Wick harbour in February 1997 after a night out in the town. The family is convinced he was murdered because of the injuries he sustained but the police insist the death was a tragic accident.
Allan McLeod said: "Sadly, we now have to share yet another Christmas not knowing the truth of what happened to Kevin. However, we remain positive and hopeful that, at last, every detail of Kevin’s case is being meticulously scrutinised by experienced homicide detectives."
Mr McLeod says the review must establish why the then Northern Constabulary ignored the procurator fiscal's specific instruction to investigate Kevin’s death as a murder, why the fiscal failed to ensure his instruction to police was carried out, and why these failures by the authorities were concealed from the family for over two decades by those in public office including, former chief constables and lord advocates.
"The failures in Kevin’s case, we believe, were not individual failures but clearly corporate failures by both chain of commands within the police and the Crown," Mr McLeod said.
"Our campaign for justice has taken its toll on all the family. Our search for the truth has been a traumatic and stressful life event which no family should have to suffer.
"We just hope for honesty, transparency and accountability when Merseyside’s review is finally complete. All we want is justice for Kevin."
Meanwhile, the family has been informed Dame Elish Angiolini's final report into police complaints handling, investigations and misconduct issues, is "very close to completion" and is now due to be published towards the end of October.
The McLeods met Dame Elish, the former Lord Advocate, in Inverness last September during her review and wrote to Scotland's justice secretary, Humza Yousaf as part of their campaign to prevent police officers retiring or resigning while under investigation. Mr Yousaf said the report will form a key part of any proposed changes to legislation.
The McLeod family hope the document will lead to changes similar to those made in England and Wales which prevent a police officer leaving the service while subject to misconduct proceedings. They also would like to see officers pursued for gross misconduct even if they have resigned or retired.
Allan McLeod added: "We believe that Scots cops are a law unto themselves and are clearly accountable to no-one. Changes must be made regarding the current police regulations for the public to have any confidence in the system.
"It is unacceptable that an officer can thwart an inquiry by choosing to retire or resign and thus escape any responsibility. Retirement should not be a way of avoiding responsibility."
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