The mother of a Perthshire man who was buried in an unmarked grave has said she is not convinced human remains that have been found are her son’s.
Tricia Bremner told The Courier that even if forensic tests on the bones found in a field at Muiredge Farm, Inchcoonans, near Errol, last week prove conclusive she wants her own expert to conduct tests.
Mrs Bremner, from Perth, has had to endure 13 years of waiting to find the body of her son, Adam Alexander, who was killed in 1999.
Thomas Pryde of Scone was jailed for 10 years at Edinburgh High Court in 2010 after he admitted the culpable homicide of Mr Alexander.
He later confessed to his then wife that he had killed him and buried his body in an unmarked grave near Errol Brickworks.
During a search at Inchcoonans last Tuesday police discovered a piece of human bone. The following day they found further remains that were taken to the police morgue in Dundee.
Mrs Bremner said she will not think about planning a funeral for her son until it is categorically proven that the remains are his.
She said she remains unconvinced the skeletal remains will be her son, claiming that officers previously used police dogs to search the area at the time of his disappearance and found nothing.
A police spokesman said tests on the bones will continue for the next few days.
Mrs Bremner said: ”Earth from the field was taken away in barrels last Friday so it’s (a result) not going to happen overnight.
”I am not 100% convinced that the remains are Adam. The Carse of Gowrie is a big area and now these remains have been found after Adam went missing 13 years ago.
”Police used search dogs in this area at the time and found nothing so for me there is that element of doubt. I have told the procurator fiscal that I want full DNA of everything found I still can’t get my head around the whole thing.”
Mrs Bremner said that a ”lot of people” go missing and even if the forensic tests prove to be her son, she will seek independent opinion.
”If it turns out to be Adam I’ll have to accept it but I’m not sure the police even dug in the right field. The tests will involve going through every piece found bit by bit.
”It will all have to be sifted through in minute detail with DNA tests done. Even then, I’m still planning to get someone else to go over the human remains as I don’t trust the police.
”However, I must praise the police officers on this latest dig for treating this discovery with compassion.”