Police have launched a murder inquiry following the death of a 50-year-old man in Livingston.
Around 2am on Thursday, 26 September, 2024, officers were called to a report of a man found with serious injuries on Bankton Lane.
The man who can now be named as Gary Nicol from Livingston, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following a post mortem examination on Friday, 27 September, 2024, the death was being treated as unexplained.
However, further enquiries by a dedicated team of specialist officers have been carried out and the circumstances are now being treated as murder.
Mr Nicol’s family are aware and are being supported by specially trained officers.
They have asked that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.
Extensive enquiries continue to be carried out by officers from Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team.
Officers from the local division and operational support units have also been involved in this complex investigation.
From enquiries so far, detectives have established that Mr Nicol drove to Bankton Lane in his black Ford Mondeo car, registration GN02GRN and arrived there around midnight.
Detective Chief Inspector Jonathan Pleasance, from Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, said: “Our thoughts are with Mr Nicol’s family and friends at this very difficult time.
“It is vital that we get answers for them and we are fully committed to tracing the person responsible as soon as possible.
“Our investigation into Mr Nicol’s death continues and I would urgently appeal to anyone with information who has not already spoken with us to please do so.
“We are keen to hear from anyone who saw a car of this description in the area around midnight or anyone or vehicles in and around the Bankton Lane area. We are trying to piece together Mr Nicol’s movements prior to his body being found and would ask anyone with any information to contact officers.
“This is a challenging investigation and any piece of information, no matter how small or insignificant you think it is, could prove vital so please do pass it on.”
An online portal has been set up to encourage members of the public to submit information directly to detectives.
The Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) is a website that gives the public access to a form so they can send information directly to the major incident teams based at the Scottish Crime Campus and can be accessed here:https://mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT19S01-PO1
Local area commander Chief Inspector Elaine McArthur-Kerr, said: “We understand the significant impact this has had on the people of Livingston and there is a dedicated team of officers working on this investigation.
“I would like to reassure the community that officers are working hard to trace whoever is responsible, with CCTV footage being gathered from the surrounding area and door to door inquiries continuing.
“Detailed forensic work has been carried out and extensive searches of nearby woodland have been undertaken by specialist officers.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact 101, quoting incident number 0278 of 26 September, 2024. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
