Police teams return to Andrew Bow's flat in body find probe

A FRESH police investigation has been launched at a flat where a man's body was discovered more than two weeks ago.
Police and forensic officers remove items from the flat. Picture: Toby WilliamsPolice and forensic officers remove items from the flat. Picture: Toby Williams
Police and forensic officers remove items from the flat. Picture: Toby Williams

Specialist police officers were seen emerging from Andrew Bow’s property in the Southside yesterday, where they carried large evidence bags from the building and scoured the area for hours.

The 36-year-old’s body was discovered on Wednesday, March 23, a full week after a neighbour in East Crosscauseway reported concerns for his welfare to the city council.

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The message is understood to have been passed on to Police Scotland but they failed to respond for seven days, despite receiving a second call from another neighbour during that time.

The Evening News told last week how the police watchdog is now investigating the force’s initial response to Mr Bow’s death, which is still being treated as unexplained.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: “I saw two police vans and about six forensic officers. There might have been more inside, I’m not too sure.

“They were here for at least four hours going in and out of Andrew’s flat.

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“I just think it’s a bit strange considering the amount of time it’s been since his body was found. We are all beginning to wonder what is going on.”

It is not clear why the specialist officers were present for several hours at the property yesterday.

Concerns for Mr Bow’s welfare were initially raised when a neighbour noticed two windows of his flat had been smashed on Wednesday, March 16.

Exactly when he died 
remains unknown.

Mr Bow, who volunteered in the kitchen at Southside Community Centre, is understood to have no family living nearby.

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Donald Campbell, manager of the cafe at the Southside Community Centre, said Mr Bow stopped volunteering at the beginning of February.

He said: “Andrew used to help out every Wednesday, but at the beginning of February he said he was stopping but I don’t know why.

“Had he still been volunteering for us, and not turned up for his shift, we would have investigated immediately.

“Andrew was a nice man. Once he came out of his shell he was a good laugh.”

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The calls expressing concerns over Mr Bow were made to the same Bilston Glen police service centre in Midlothian which handled reports last July about a couple’s car which had crashed off the M9.

Police took three days to find the Renault Clio after failing to log the call properly.

John Yuill, 28, died at the scene, while mother-of-two Lamara Bell, 25, was left with his body until officers arrived. She later died in hospital.

Prosecutors have now instructed the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner (Pirc) to look into Police Scotland’s handling of Mr Bow’s death.

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A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “Police in Edinburgh are continuing their investigation into the death of a 36-year-old man.

“The death is currently being treated as unexplained pending further inquiries.

“A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”