Senior politicians have called for a “full, transparent and thorough” investigation into the death of Fife man Colin Marr.
The 23-year-old died in Lochgelly from a single stab wound to the heart in July 2007.
His parents Margaret and Stuart Graham have consistently claimed his death, which followed an argument with his girlfriend Candice Bonar, was not properly investigated.
A nine-day fatal accident inquiry couldn’t determine who delivered the fatal blow, but an independent Crown Office report by a former CID officer later laid bare a catalogue of “basic” and “serious” failings in the police investigation.
Now Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has backed calls for a fresh probe.
“The Grahams have been subjected to considerable pain in the years following the death of their son, Colin,” he said.
“For such fundamental errors to have been made at the beginning of the investigation is in itself a tragedy, but the subsequent failings have compounded that initial failure.
“The additional stress and suffering this has inflicted on Colin’s parents is unthinkable and I would urge Police Scotland to address this once and for all and authorise a full, transparent and thorough investigation into what happened, what went wrong and what lessons need to be learned to prevent any other family going through the living nightmare the Grahams have had to endure.”
Labour MSP Jayne Baxter is similarly convinced of the case for a full inquiry.
“I fully support the family in calling for Police Scotland to look into the matter in a way that will settle it once and for all,” she said. “It is time to end the continued suffering of this family.”
When contacted by The Courier, a police spokesman said the force has now referred the Grahams’ complaints to the independent Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.
“The death of Colin Marr has been the subject of two reviews, two reinvestigations and a fatal accident inquiry,” he said.
“Correspondence from Fife Constabulary to his family earlier this year has also been the subject of a review by Police Scotland.
“The matter was referred in August 2013 by Police Scotland to the independent Police Investigations and Review Commissioner for consideration.”
The commissioner’s spokeswoman last night said: “I can confirm that in August the commissioner received a request from Police Scotland to review the way that it had handled a number of complaints from the family. A significant amount of paperwork has now been received by this office and the review is under way.”
In a joint statement, Margaret and Stuart Graham said: “We have spent over five years following due process in a desperate attempt to have our complaints about the police mishandling of our son’s tragic and sudden death heard.
“The reality is that no discernible investigation of any note took place following Colin’s death.”
The Grahams want a full independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding their son’s death.