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24 January 2011
Last updated at 16:30 ET
Two police officers have been suspended during a probe into officer conduct prior to an Easter Ross woman's murder.
Donna Forrest, 30, was murdered at a house in Balintore in April last year.
Northern Constabulary had previously apologised for failing to spot vital evidence in the case during searches of the murder scene.
In July, Philip Fraser, 50, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder and told he must serve a minimum of 20 years.
A statement from Deputy Chief Constable Garry Sutherland said: "Having today received and considered a further report on the internal investigation in relation to allegations about officer conduct prior to the murder of Donna Forrest, I have suspended a second officer pending further enquiries.
"The murder enquiry was properly investigated and this resulted in the conviction of Philip Fraser in July last year.
"It is true that a forensic search, whilst finding the two murder weapons, failed to locate an additional knife.
"This was an unacceptable error and fell below the expected standard. Apologies were made for this and the officers have been dealt with appropriately and that matter is closed."
He said the force dealt with professional conduct matters robustly and thoroughly, adding that full details could not be released to ensure the two suspended officers received a fair hearing "untainted by speculation".
He added: "A full report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal for independent scrutiny.
"We are keeping Miss Forrest's family fully updated and will share the final outcome with them at the appropriate stage."
Fraser killed Ms Forrest by stabbing her and attacking her with a claw hammer.
He carried out the murder while free on licence after killing his ex-wife Katherine Scafe in 1997.
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Donna Forrest, 30, was murdered at a house in Balintore in April last year.
Northern Constabulary had previously apologised for failing to spot vital evidence in the case during searches of the murder scene.
In July, Philip Fraser, 50, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder and told he must serve a minimum of 20 years.
A statement from Deputy Chief Constable Garry Sutherland said: "Having today received and considered a further report on the internal investigation in relation to allegations about officer conduct prior to the murder of Donna Forrest, I have suspended a second officer pending further enquiries.
"The murder enquiry was properly investigated and this resulted in the conviction of Philip Fraser in July last year.
"It is true that a forensic search, whilst finding the two murder weapons, failed to locate an additional knife.
"This was an unacceptable error and fell below the expected standard. Apologies were made for this and the officers have been dealt with appropriately and that matter is closed."
He said the force dealt with professional conduct matters robustly and thoroughly, adding that full details could not be released to ensure the two suspended officers received a fair hearing "untainted by speculation".
He added: "A full report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal for independent scrutiny.
"We are keeping Miss Forrest's family fully updated and will share the final outcome with them at the appropriate stage."
Fraser killed Ms Forrest by stabbing her and attacking her with a claw hammer.
He carried out the murder while free on licence after killing his ex-wife Katherine Scafe in 1997.
Business | Christians | Coupons | Discussions | Gamers
Legal | Politics | Sports | Teens | Webmasters