EXCLUSIVE | WATCH: Wick death witness revealed 20 years later
Claims he saw final moments of Kevin Mcleod's life, & two other people.
Last updated 6th Feb 2020
MFR News can exclusively reveal that a new witness has told detectives he saw the final moments of Kevin Mcleod's life, before he was found dead in Wick Harbour in 1997.
"I heard a commotion, voices, and scuffling, or whatever, and then a splash" - WITNESS
Twenty-one-years after a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) returned an open verdict, Kevin's death remains unexplained, but ever since, his parents have asked: was Kevin's drowning really an accident?
The former Northern Constabulary at the time treated the incident as accidental, claiming the engaged electrician's internal injuries were the result of a fall, before getting into the water.
As part of an ongoing news investigation carried out by our reporter Bryan Rutherford, a new witness has spoken exclusively to MFR News, and since met central belt-based detectives from Police Scotland's Specialist Crime Division.
The man had told us first: "I was walking home and I decided to walk on a little hill above the actual harbour, when I heard a commotion, voices, and scuffling, or whatever, and then a splash, and I went to investigate.
"I saw the two people and Kevin in the water - I believe he kind of went under the water, and I must have made a noise, cause of the two looked round, and one gave chase.
"I took off basically, which is not exactly the admirable thing to do, but I thought that because they'd seen me, they would have saved him, but they didn't. They just let him drown."
"Oh my goodness. It must have been terrible for this person to witness what he saw" - JUNE MCLEOD
We took Kevin's mum June to the scene at the centre of these allegations, and she watched a video account from the witness on an iPad as she stood on the same spot he claimed to have done at the time of the tragedy.
Reacting to his claims, June said: "Oh my goodness. It must have been terrible for this person to witness what he saw. For us to think about it, you know, but to see it in person must be horrific, must be terrible nightmares for the person.
"I'm really shocked. I'm just shocked. I'm really cold and shivering.
"Well I just hope now that this police from the central belt is going to do their job properly, and investigate Kevin's death, and leave no stone unturned, which we were told by Northern Constabulary, which was total rubbish."
The eye witness - who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health issues - has given Major Crime detectives a formal statement with the support of a social worker.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Bell, of Police Scotland's Specialist Crime Division, told MFR News: "Police Scotland can confirm that it has been contacted by a man wishing to provide us with information about the death of Kevin McLeod.
"We reiterate our appeal for anyone who has any information about this case to call Police Scotland on 101.
"It's entirely right that the family do everything they can to get to the bottom of this incident, which I don't think we have done" - EDWARD MOUNTAIN MSP
Last year, just before Christmas, and in a dramatic U-turn, Police Scotland issued a public apology to Kevin's family, regarding legacy police force Northern Constabulary's botched initial investigation.
On December 22nd last year (2017) in a letter handed to the Mcleods, Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) Iain Livingstone wrote: 'I apologise unreservedly for the policing response which followed the death of your son Kevin in February 1997.
'It is unquestionable that since this tragic incident numerous investigations and enquiries have substantiated your belief that there were serious and numerous failings on the part of Northern Constabulary in both the initial and subsequent investigations.
'It is Police Scotland’s unequivocal position that we fully accept that an instruction was indeed given by the then Procurator Fiscal to treat Kevin’s death as a murder and to investigate it accordingly, a matter which Northern Constabulary at that time failed to do.
'There is no doubt that basic policing procedures at this time such as door to door enquiries were never carried out and subsequently the opportunity to gather vital evidence missed.'
'During a recent comprehensive review of this case Police Scotland has come to conclusion that, because of the initial police investigation failures and based upon the evidence now available, we are unable to present any evidence which would clearly indicate the circumstances surrounding the cause of Kevin’s death either criminally or accidentally. It remains the case that Police Scotland are committed to considering any evidence which may come to light in the future.'
Highland MSP Edward Mountain commented: "It is incredibly difficult for parents to have to bury one of their children, and it's entirely right that the family do everything they can to get to the bottom of this incident, which I don't think we have done.
"The family have been through a huge amount, and I think that Police Scotland owe them a proper investigation in light of new evidence.
"It's entirely right that they should be asking for more investigation, and I think Iain Livingstone will understand that parents want to get to the bottom of the tragic death of their son, and I hope that he will give them a new investigation, and pull out all the stops."
LISTEN: MFR News broadcast the findings of our ongoing investigation across Scotland (21/01/18)...