Police have now interviewed close to 3,000 people in the hunt for the killer of Nairn banker Alistair Wilson – and they are still spending thousands of pounds a year on the case.
New details about the 11-year-old investigation into the murder which sent shockwaves through the Highlands show that the police probe remains very much active.
In response to a series of questions lodged by the Press and Journal, the force said it had now interviewed about 2,700 people in connection with the case.
And they produced new figures which revealed that officers trying to catch the culprit have spent close to £15,000 on overtime, hotels, travel and food since April last year.
Mr Wilson was gunned down on his doorstep while his children played inside his home. He later died at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
No one has ever been arrested and no motive for the murder has been established.
Former Nairn Provost Sandy Park said on the eve of the 11th anniversary of the murder last month that he was now “very doubtful” that the father-of-two’s killer would be found, and that the seaside town had finally “moved on”.
But local politicians last night welcomed figures which show that the police are continuing to try to solve the case.
Since April last year, a total of £11,477 has been clocked-up in overtime by officers investigating the murder.
A further £1,477 has been spent by police investigators on hotels, while more than £400 has been claimed for travel, as well as £379 on food and £796 on other expenses.
Nairn councillor Michael Green welcomed the disclosure last night.
“Murder is so rare in a place like Nairn, so I’m fully supportive of the police, not only in keeping the case open but spending resources to try and solve it,” he said.
“It’s all about sorting priorities but I think it’s recent enough that they have got to keep the case open. I’m absolutely still hopeful that it can be solved.”
Drew Hendry, MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, said: “It’s right that this investigation remains active and ongoing and I am glad to hear that this is, in fact, the case.
“Our thoughts continue to be with Alistair’s family and we must hope that there is a breakthrough in the near future.”
However, Mary Scanlon, Scottish Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said: “It’s regrettable the police have spent so much taxpayers’ money on accommodation and travel on a murder case which hasn’t been solved yet.
“I would have thought that with all the resources Police Scotland have, this case would have been solved already.
“It is extremely disappointing that Alastair Wilson’s name is now added to the list of unsolved murders in the Highlands.”
The police refused to disclose the number of officers who have been involved in the investigation, or the number of officer hours spent on it to date, in response to a freedom of information request submitted by the Press and Journal.
They also declined to estimate a total cost for the investigation, despite having put the figure at more than £2million last year.
The force said: “Since the incident happened, detectives have worked tirelessly using a wide range of methodologies, seeking expert help from throughout the UK and considering advances in forensic science all in an effort to help detect this highly unusual crime.”
Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Kenny Graham, of the Specialist Crime Division’s major investigation team, said: “Following a review of the Alistair Wilson murder under homicide governance processes introduced by Police Scotland, the investigation remains active and ongoing.
“We will consider all forensic and investigative opportunities. We remain absolutely committed to tracing the person responsible for Alistair’s death and continue to ask the public for any information which might assist us.”
The force said it could not comment further as it remained a live investigation.