A Fife family demanding answers over their son’s death say they have been snubbed by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.
The parents of Colin Marr, who was 23 when he died in mysterious circumstances at his home in Lochgelly four years ago, have urged Mr MacAskill to launch a probe into his death.
Local MSPs John Park and Willie Rennie said the police investigation was “grossly mishandled”. They wrote to Mr MacAskill on the family’s behalf with a plea for the matter to be reviewed by Strathclyde Police.
However the minister wrote back stating it would not be appropriate for him to intervene.
Mr Marr’s stepfather Stuart Graham, who lives with Colin’s mother Margaret in Inverkeithing, said: “We cannot begin to understand how someone in Mr MacAskill’s position cannot be interested in what we regard as the complete failure of the justice system.”
Mr Graham said the family “have taken legal advice” and are prepared to take the matter to the European Court of Human Rights. He also finds it “perverse” that Mr MacAskill did not have time to meet the family, but was able to meet the Lockerbie bomber before his release.
Allen Marr, Mr Marr’s father who lives in Leven, also believes the matter should be investigated again.
He said: “John Park and Willie Rennie have kindly got involved but unfortunately Mr MacAskill hasn’t wanted to get involved.”
The family said the cause of Mr Marr’s death may never be known due to mistakes made by Fife police and the procurator fiscal’s office.’Failures’Mr Park and Mr Rennie wrote: “You will recall that senior personnel in the fiscal’s office were also disciplined for failures in the early handling of the case and two police officers retired before disciplinary proceedings could conclude.”
Mr Marr died after an argument with his girlfriend. A stab wound to the chest punctured his heart. A fatal accident inquiry was inconclusive and Sheriff Principal Alastair Dunlop QC described the outcome as “most unsatisfactory”.
He said it was important to emphasise the inconclusive outcome should not undermine the presumption of the girlfriend’s innocence.
The family have always maintained Mr Marr did not commit suicide and that the investigation was “hashed”.
Mr Park said: “As Justice Minister, it beggars belief that he (Mr MacAskill) will not speak directly to Colin’s mother and stepfather who still don’t know how their son died. The authorities have confirmed that the investigation was botched.”
Mr Rennie said: “Of course we don’t want Kenny MacAskill to undermine the independence of the justice system but surely when so much has gone wrong he has a responsibility to enquire.”
In a letter, Mr MacAskill responded: “Both the police service and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service operate entirely independently of the Scottish Government and as such it would not be appropriate for me to comment…
“For this reason I must inform you that I am declining your request for a meeting at this time.”
Photo David Wardle.