Hundreds interviewed in Hassard murder case review

Police have interviewed more than 100 witnesses as part of the case review

Police carrying out a cold case review of a man's murder in 1989 have interviewed more than 100 witnesses.

Labourer James Hassard, 47, who had been working in London, was killed during a visit home to Caol in Lochaber.

Northern Constabulary launched a review of the case last month.

The force said a period of "intensive inquiry" had been concluded and officers were now in the process of analysing witness statements.

New forensic work is also being done.

DCI Gordon Greenlees, who is heading the review, said he believed the answer to the murder mystery lay within the community.

He said: "We strongly believe that a small number of individuals in the Caol community still hold vital information in regard to this crime and would again appeal to them for their co-operation which would bring closure for the family and allow the interests of justice to be rightly served.

"Further inquiries and forensic examinations are ongoing, as is a detailed analysis of the new information gathered."

Mr Hassard was found murdered in the early hours of 18 February 1989.

His body was discovered in a car park between Kilmallie Road and Torcastle Crescent, in Caol.

A police investigation at the time established that he had been drinking in the nearby Lochaber Bar.

His killer, or killers, were not traced.