Alistair Wilson murder: Call to reveal envelope

Alistair Wilson and his wife Veronica. Picture: Peter Jolly/Northpix

The detective leading a new strategic review into the murder in the seaside town of Nairn says he may release details of the elusive envelope which the banker was given before being executed.

There has been continuous calls for more information about the contents of the turquoise-coloured envelope to be made public.

Detectives who have led the murder hunt over the last decade have refused to offer any details about the envelope and what it contained.

But Detective Chief Superintendent Gary Flannigan said: “I sense that it is something that could be potentially interesting to the public, so we’ll look at that.

“If it doesn’t harm the investigation then there would be no reason not to share the limited information that we have.”

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It comes as a former undercover cop, Peter Bleksley, a founder member of Scotland Yard’s undercover unit in the 1980s, said the killer’s note could unlock the key to the mysterious murder.

The killer arrived at the door of the Wilson home in Crescent Road on the evening of Sunday, 28 November, 2004.

Mrs Wilson answered, and the stocky character wearing a baseball hat asked for her husband by name.

Thirty-year-old Alistair went to the door then, according to his wife, returned inside with the envelope, before going back to speak to the caller.

He was then gunned down.

The envelope was never recovered, and it is believed the killer fled with it.

A cold case expert and former policeman, Peter Bleksley, a founder member of Scotland Yard’s undercover unit in the 1980s, believes it is now time to reveal the details.

Mr Bleksley, a leading commentator on crime who regularly appears on TV and radio as an expert, said: “What I’d really like now is for Police Scotland to release the information relating to the blue envelope. What was in the envelope? What was written on it?

“I can understand them withholding that information 10 years ago, but now the police should release that information as a matter of course. It must be relevant.”

Mr Bleksley, now a director and co-owner of a business intelligence company, added: “Releasing this evidence for the first time could give someone the confidence to come forward and it might solve this case.

“Whatever was in the envelope I think could be the key to unlocking this case.”

This week, Police Scotland announced it was holding what is known as a homicide governance review.

The review is looking at previous investigations of the case to ascertain if all possible lines of inquiry have been thoroughly exhausted.

It is already eight weeks in, and should be completed “within weeks” according to DSC Flannigan.

Mr Wilson’s family said this week they feared the killer would strike again.

Mr Wilson’s widow, Veronica, his parents Alan and Joan and his sister Jillian, said: “Despite years of searching for answers, the question which always remains is why?

“We are confident that someone, somewhere knows the identity of Alistair’s killer, a man who is still at large.

“He has killed once. He may kill again, and cause another family the heartbreak we have endured.”

• Alistair Wilson murder: Killer was ‘master hitman’

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