Men seen on Nairn beach with gun before banker murder

Alistair Wilson, pictured with his family, was shot on the doorstep of his home

Two men were seen with a gun on a beach at Nairn a month before a father-of-two was shot on the doorstep of his home in the town, say police.

Bank manager Alistair Wilson was shot on the evening of 28 November 2004. He later died in hospital.

Police said a witness has described seeing two men - one aged in their 20s and the other between 40 and 60 years old - on Nairn's East Beach.

The younger of the men was said to have been in possession of a handgun.

The beach is only a short walk from the Wilson's family home.

It appears to be a significant development in the 17-year investigation during which thousands of statements have been taken, but no one has been apprehended.

• Police update description of gunman in 2004 murder

• The Doorstep Murder

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Police said the witness had come forward following recent appeals for help in catching the gunman.

Earlier this month, detectives updated the 2004 description of the killer to widen the possible age range. They also travelled to Canada to interview a witness.

The men were said to have been seen at Nairn's East Beach

Det Supt Graeme Mackie, of Police Scotland's major investigation team, said officers were seeking the public's help in identifying the two men.

He said: "This potential sighting was passed to officers following recent publicity around the case and I am grateful for the positive response we have received from the local community.

"More than 17 years have passed since Alistair's murder, but Police Scotland is committed to bringing his killer to justice and providing the family with the answers they deserve."

The detective added: "Someone out there knows what happened to Alistair and developments in the investigation over the last few weeks are a vital reminder that it is never too late to come forward with information, no matter how small or insignificant you may think it is."

Mr Wilson, who had been reading his sons a bedtime story, went to the door to speak to the man and was handed an empty blue envelope with the word Paul written on it.

He was then shot with a German-made handgun. The weapon was later found in a nearby drain by a council road sweeper.

Police believe the murder weapon may have been brought to the UK after World War Two

The early months of the police inquiry involved a plea to people in Nairn and the surrounding area to voluntarily give DNA samples.

Tests on the gun failed to extract any DNA.

The Haenel Suhl pocket pistol is from the 1930s and police believe the weapon was likely to have been taken to the UK after World War Two as some form of souvenir.

The ammunition used in the killing was from the 1980s or 90s.

Anyone with information is asked to telephone 101 or e-mail [e-mail]

Alistair Wilson timeline

• 28 November 2004: The 30-year-old is shot on his doorstep at about 19:00. His wife, Veronica, raises the alarm. Mr Wilson later dies at Inverness' Raigmore Hospital.

• 29 November: Police launch a major investigation and issue a description of the gunman.

• 8 December: The German-made handgun is found in a drain near the Wilson's home by a council road sweeper.

• 10 December: Mrs Wilson makes a public appeal for help in finding the killer.

• June 2007: DNA testing of about 1,000 local men begins.

• November 2017: Police say a blue envelope handed to Mr Wilson by his killer had the name Paul on it.

• 12 October 2020: The Wilsons' son, Andrew, who was four years old at the time of the shooting, speaks publicly for the first time. He appeals for help in finding his father's killer.

• 4 March 2021: Detectives say they travelled to Canada to interview a witness.

• 9 March: Police update the 2004 description of the gunman, suggesting he may have been younger than previously thought.

• 21 March: Detectives say a witness described seeing two men with a gun on Nairn's East Beach a month before Mr Wilson was shot.