Alistair Wilson murder: Police Scotland in Canada investigating dad shot dead on doorstep in Nairn

Scottish detectives investigating the murder of a banker shot dead on his doorstep 18 years ago have travelled to Canada.

Alistair Wilson was murdered at his home in the Highlands on Sunday, November 28, 2004, while his two little boys were upstairs.

In 2020, Police Scotland made a renewed appeal for information to help catch Mr Wilson’s killer, now they are conducting interviews in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.

Son Andrew was only four-years-old when his dad was murdered at their home in Nairn.

Andrew Wilson and his brother at his father's graveside. — Andrew Wilson and his brother at his father’s graveside. Police Scotland

“Someone came to our family home on a Sunday evening while my dad was reading my brother and me bedtime stories after our bath,” he recalled in 2020. “The next thing I know I am looking at my dad lying in our doorway covered in blood.”

Mr Wilson was born and raised in North Ayrshire, attended Beith Primary and later Garnock Academy in Kilbirnie.

After school he went to study accountancy and business law at Stirling University, and later he found himself a graduate position at the Bank of Scotland.

He was sent to work in Fort William where he met and married Veronica, a graphic designer.

Mr Wilson was 30-years-old when, at 7.10pm, his wife opened the door to a stocky man, aged 35-40, wearing a dark jacket and baseball cap, who asked for her husband by name.

Mr Wilson went downstairs to speak to the man and was handed a blue envelope with the word “Paul” on it.

He went inside briefly and then returned to the door for a second time when he was fatally shot. He died in hospital.

Haenel Suhl pocket pistol from the 1930s. Police Scotland

On Friday, Police Scotland announced that officers from the Major Investigation Team were working closely with colleagues in Canada to carry out witness interviews in Nova Scotia.

Detective superintendent Graeme Mackie said: “Officers are carrying out enquiries in Canada in connection with the murder of Alistair Wilson at his home in Nairn in November 2004

“Police Scotland is working closely with colleagues in Nova Scotia to carry out witness interviews as part of the investigation.

“More than 17 years have passed since Alistair was fatally shot on the doorstep of his home, but time is no barrier to justice.

Alistair and Veronica. Picture issued by Northern Constabulary in 2005. Police Scotland

“We remain committed to ensuring the person responsible for his murder is brought to justice so that we can give his family the answers they deserve.

“I would urge anyone with any information, no matter how small or insignificant they feel it may be, to come forward and speak to detectives. Please do not assume that the police already know the information you possess.”

in 2020, police released information about the case appealing for help.

The murderer was described in 2004 as a man aged 30-40 years old, he would now be approaching his 50s or 60s.

Alistair Wilson and his son Andrew. Police Scotland

The handgun used was a Haenel Suhl pocket pistol from the 1930s with distinctive H and S letters superimposed on the grip.

Police believed the weapon is likely to have been taken to the UK after World War Two as some form of souvenir, however the ammunition used in the murder is from the 1980s or 90s.

Anyone with information is asked to telephone 101, quoting reference 0515 of March 4, 2022, or you can e-mail a dedicated inbox at SCDHOLMESAberdeen@scotland.pnn.police.uk