Man killed as Halloween children go guising

A MURDER hunt was launched yesterday after a man was stabbed to death on Halloween in a quiet village.

James Bruce, 40, a father of two, died on Sunday night shortly after being admitted to hospital following a disturbance in the village of Boddam in Buchan.

Mr Bruce, a tradesman, is understood to have sustained fatal stab wounds when he was attacked in the village's Claymore Crescent as young children in the neighbourhood were guising in the street. One local resident, who did not wish to be named said: "There were a lot of kids walking along the street, all dressed up for Halloween. They must have been terrified."

Grampian Police have refused to comment on reports that the attack happened after Mr Bruce had an argument with the driver of a car which pulled into the street shortly before the attack.

Detective Chief Inspector Malcolm Stewart, who is heading the investigation into what he described as a "suspicious death," said that a team of around 50 officers were following several lines of enquiry.

He said: "We have a large team dedicated to the investigation and we'd like to reassure members of the public that this appears to be an isolated incident. There is nothing to suggest the public at large are in any real danger, but obviously we have to trace the person responsible.

"We'd also like to thank the people of Boddam for their patience as we carry out our enquiries in the area."

He added: "Enquiries are at an early stage and we are following several lines of enquiry. At the moment the main part of the enquiry is very much focused on searches of the area in terms of conventional searches and forensic searches.

"I would appeal for people who live in the area who may have seen or heard any disturbances to contact Grampian Police. "

Det Chief Inspector Stewart said that Mr Bruce was believed to have been in the Claymore Crescent area of Boddam around 5pm on Sunday when the incident happened. He died shortly after being admitted to hospital in Peterhead.

Claymore Crescent remained cordoned off and closed to traffic in both directions yesterday as police investigations continued. A section of Forrest Road in Peterhead, outside the town's hospital, was also cordoned off for several hours on Sunday night as part of the investigation.

One local resident said: "I have never seen so much police activity in the village. There is never much crime in Boddam apart from vandalism. Everyone is shocked about what has happened."

Sam Coull, the local councillor for Boddam, said the death of Mr Bruce had stunned the community.

He said: "This is just a quiet little seaside village. You're not looking for this kind of thing to happen in a place like this. This is just dreadful news – unbelievable."

It is understood Mr Bruce had a daughter, who is in her 20s and lives in Boddam, and a son.