Family make appeal for assistance as dectectives launch fresh inquiry into brutal 1999 stabbing

Steven Brown was found lying dead in a field near Elphinstone, Tranent, on February 21, 1999. The 35-year-old father-of-three was beaten and had been stabbed to death.

A trio of local men were charged with the murder of Mr Brown, of Kerry Road, Tranent, three days after his body was found, but they were released due to a lack of evidence.

Now a £5000 reward has been put up by Crimestoppers for information leading to convictions as detectives re-examine a number of lines of inquiry.

Officers are set to re- interview key witnesses, carry out door-to-door inquiries in Tranent, and revisit key locations linked to the murder as part of the fresh probe.

In a statement released on behalf of the Brown family, the victim’s brothers Colin, 57, William, 48, and Kenneth, 56, said: “It will be 14 years on February 21 that our brother Steven Brown was found murdered.

“No one has ever been brought to justice for this crime, and it is great to see that police have not given up on finding those responsible.

“Steven’s murder affected the lives of a lot of innocent people, not least his family. Steven had three daughters, three brothers, a sister, and a mother and a father, and we all deserve to see justice done.

“It has been a difficult time for the family, knowing that there are those in the local community who know what happened to Steven that night.

“It would be a great comfort to us to see the culprits finally convicted, and give our family the closure we desperately need.

“We have felt that over the years Steven has been forgotten, while those responsible for his death have been allowed to lead their lives as normal.

“We are appealing to people in Tranent who have  information regarding Steven’s murder to contact the police and help us achieve justice.”

In a separate statement, Steven’s ex-partner Wilma Brown, 48, who is mother to his teenage daughter, said: “I am grateful that the police have reopened this inquiry as I have been trying for years to get justice for Steven.

“Steven never had the opportunity to get to know his daughter. He also raised my own son as his own. We would ask people to come forward and tell the truth now, and help us put his memory to rest.”

Detective Inspector Gary Boyd, who is leading the inquiry, said that officers were “determined to bring those responsible to justice”.

He added: “We firmly believe that the key to solving his murder lies in the local community, and we are appealing directly to anyone with information to come forward.

“We understand that people may have previously been reluctant to approach police with any information. However, as time has passed people’s personal circumstances and loyalties may have changed, and they may now be willing to share any information they have with us.”

DI Boyd added: “Many residents who were living in Tranent in 1999 will still be living and working in the area, and we plan to speak with all those who previously helped with our inquiries.”

Anyone with information about the case should contact police on 0131-311 3131 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.