Swinney offers to meet family of murdered banker

First Minister John Swinney has offered to meet the family of a banker whose murder has remained unsolved for 20 years.

Dad-of-two Alistair Wilson was shot on the doorstep of his family home in the Highland seaside town of Nairn on 28 November 2004. He later died in hospital.

A team of detectives is re-investigating the killing, but Mr Wilson's family has been critical of Police Scotland's handling of the case.

Swinney told MSPs during First Minister's Questions there was a limit to what he could do but he was willing to listen to the family's concerns.

Scottish Conservative MSP Douglas Ross raised the murder case at Holyrood.

Ross said Mr Wilson's widow Veronica and his family had shown great dignity, but were critical of police.

He acknowledged the first minister could not comment on a live police investigation but asked whether he would meet the Wilson family.

Swinney said he had every sympathy with the Wilson family and the trauma they have experienced.

He said the re-investigation was an operational matter for Police Scotland.

The FM added: "I would be prepared to hear their anguish.

"There would be a limit to what I could do, but if it provides any assistance or support to the family that the first minister is willing to listen to their concerns then I am prepared to do that."

Mr Wilson, 30, and his wife Veronica had been bathing their two young sons and getting ready to read them a bedtime story when the killer came to the door.

A blue envelope, which had the name Paul on it, was handed to Mr Wilson on the doorstep.

He went inside and showed it to his wife, but the envelope had nothing inside.

When Mr Wilson returned to the door he was shot.

Last month, on the 20th anniversary of the murder, Det Ch Supt Suzanne Chow vowed the re-investigation would be "full and thorough".

She told BBC Scotland News: "We are not discounting any avenue at this time and there a number of lines of investigation open to us.

"We are taking it right back to what happened in 2004.

"We are being totally impartial, totally open minded and ensuring a thorough investigation is carried out."

The senior detective said she had met Mr Wilson's family to "build trust and confidence" with them.

And she said a team of officers were collating and evaluating 20 years of evidence.

The cold case probe will also take advantage of new techniques and technologies that were not available in 2004.