Aberdeen inquiry finds police errors contributed to death of torture victim

A Fatal Accident Inquiry has determined that the death of Jamie Forbes, who fell from a 12th-floor flat in Aberdeen in January 2024, could have been avoided through proper police action.

Mr. Forbes had been abducted and tortured by Lee Smith, who was subsequently convicted of culpable homicide. During the ordeal, witnesses reported hearing screams and seeing a man with blood on his face. However, a recording error regarding the location of the cries led responding officers to search the wrong floors of the high-rise building. The officers left the scene before Mr. Forbes fell from his window.

Sheriff Principal Andrew Miller identified four specific failures: inadequate recording of 999 call information, lack of follow-up with a key witness, poor communication between officers and supervisors, and a failure to act on information suggesting the shouting originated from higher floors.

In response to the findings, the victim's sister has campaigned for ‘Jamie’s Law,’ which would mandate that officers responding to concerns for a person cannot leave the scene until the individual in distress is located.