A son has spoken publicly for the first time about his father being shot on the doorstep of the family’s Highland home in a murder which remains unsolved.
Andrew Wilson, 20, said he and his family deserve to know why his bank worker father Alistair Wilson was killed aged 30 and is confident that, almost 16 years on, the police will catch the murderer.
He said he has no memories of his father apart from seeing him lying covered in blood after being shot on the doorstep of the family home in Nairn in the Highlands.
He was aged four at the time of the murder on November 28 2004.
Andrew Wilson said: “Someone came to our family home on a Sunday evening while my dad was reading my brother and me bedtime stories after our bath.
“The next thing I know I am looking at my dad lying in our doorway covered in blood.”
Around 7pm that evening Mr Wilson’s wife Veronica opened the door of the house on Crescent Road to a stocky man, aged 30-40, 5ft 4in to 5ft 7in tall, wearing a dark jacket and baseball cap who asked for Alistair Wilson.
Mr Wilson spoke to the man and was handed an empty blue envelope with the word Paul written on it.
He then went back inside to speak to his wife before returning to the door, where he was shot.
He died later that evening in hospital.
The gun was recovered from a drain near Mr Wilson’s home 10 days after his murder.
No one has been apprehended in connection with the murder and Police Scotland’s major investigation team continues to investigate the case.
Andrew Wilson said: “I was four years old when this happened and my dad was only 30.
“There would be no more bedtime stories, no more playing football or helping him in the garden.
“My dad and I missed out on so many things together, showing me how to tie a tie, driving lessons and taking me for my first pint.
“I am now a 20-year-old with little answers regarding my dad’s death.
“For the last 16 years I have been left wondering why I didn’t have a dad like all my friends.
“I still cannot believe how someone could shoot my dad dead on our doorstep while my brother and I were upstairs.
“The only memory of my dad I’m left with is the image of him lying on the doorstep.
“Photographs are all I have and no family should suffer the way we have all these years.”
He added: “I am appealing on behalf of my family to anyone who may have any information, no matter how big or small to please come forward.
“Someone out there could have the missing piece of information.
“Nothing can bring my dad back but knowing who did this and why could give us the closure we need.
“Any information could be crucial to our case.”
He hopes his appeal will lead to someone coming forward.
He said his family has “100% faith in the police”, adding: “It’s not an if someone will be caught, it’s a when.”
‘Someone out there knows something
He told the PA news agency: “I know whoever did it will receive justice and I’ve got 100% faith in that.
“I just want to know why – why I’ve grown up without a dad, why it was me, why it was my dad?”
“Someone out there knows something.
“It’s not a need, it’s not a want, it’s a deserve – we deserve the answers.
“I hope anyone out there who knows comes forward now after seeing this.”
Police also revealed new information about the ammunition used in the murder, 0.25 calibre bullets which are said to be manufactured in the 1980s or 90s.
The gun was a Haenel Suhl pocket pistol from the 1930s which police believe is likely to have been taken to the UK as a souvenir after the Second World War.
Detective Inspector Gary Winter, of the major investigation team, said: “Do you know of anyone who had a similar pocket pistol?
“Do you know of anyone who mentioned having firearm souvenirs from the World War Two or from any family who were World War Two veterans?
“The blue envelope handed to Alistair by the killer had the name Paul on it, which may or may not be relevant.
“Does this mean anything to you in the context of this investigation?
“Lastly, do you know any other person by the name Alistair Wilson, who may have been the intended target of violence or retribution to any extent?”
He added: “Alistair’s killer would now be approaching his 50s or 60s and has enjoyed a life denied to his victim and his family.”
Mr Winter hopes the appeal will be a “vital reminder” it is never too late to come forward with information, and added: “We remain committed to ensuring the person responsible for Alistair’s murder is brought to justice so that we can give his family the answers they deserve.”
