A PRIVATE investigation led by senior retired police officers has been launched in an attempt to solve one of Scotland's most baffling deaths. 

Two former Strathclyde Police detectives have been recruited by campaigners looking to dispel the question mark that has hung over the death of Willie McRae. 

The Herald:

Crime writer Ian Rankin and Alex Norton, the actor who starred in detective drama Taggart, are both backing the fresh inquiry into the demise of the former SNP vice-chairman. 

Described as a "thorn in the side of the establishment", the outspoken lawyer and one-time SNP leadership hopeful was found in his car with a bullet in his brain near a remote Highland road on April 6, 1985. 

The Herald:

Though the Crown Office ruled the death a suicide - a position it maintains - there has been persistent speculation he was targeted by the security services as he posed a threat to the Thatcher Government. 

A public crowdfunding appeal has secured the services of former detective chief inspector John Weir and retired detective sergeant John Walker, who led the cold case that secured a conviction in the Arlene Fraser murder.

The duo say their unofficial investigation has already made "significant" progress, having identified new witnesses and undertaken fresh interviews with a dozen others, including a former police officer who says McRae was under surveillance when he died. 

Speaking to The Times, Mr Walker said: "During our research we identified 25 witnesses and so far we have managed to trace and interview 12 of those. 

"We have also identified at least one witness who was at the scene and told us that they have never been interviewed by the police or any other authorities."

The pair are focusing their investigation on the placement of McRae's pistol, which was fired twice and was found a significant distance from the car, as well as suggestions the politician's Volvo was removed before being returned to the scene. 

Rankin, whose novel The Impossible Dead was based on McRae's death, said: "We may never know what really happened to McRae, but his life has provided me with inspiration."

Norton, who became interested in the case when he worked on a TV series on unsolved crimes, said: "I realised that something was very, very wrong about the initial inquiry into his death."

A Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal spokesman said: "Crown counsel are satisfied with the extensive investigations into the death of William McRae and the case is now closed."

Anyone with information on the case can contact the investigators via www.justiceforwillie.com