DNA offers best hope in Cumming case
10 Jan 07
Unsolved chief accountant stabbing rests on partial sample found at scene
Detectives hunting the attacker of Leslie Cumming are hoping that DNA will solve the case.
The former chief accountant of the Law Society of Scotland was stabbed several times on 23 January last year close to his home in Murrayfield, Edinburgh. He has since retired.
Despite an intensive investigation, no-one has been arrested for the crime and police now concede that their chances of making an arrest are slim.
Hopes now rest on a partial DNA sample found at the scene. This does not match any of those on the national criminal database, so whoever carried out the attack has no convictions in the UK in recent years. Detectives are continuing to compare the sample with those taken from persons convicted of new offences in case a match emerges.
Detective Inspector Keith Hardie from Lothian and Borders Police said his officers had investigated solicitors with possible motives, but with no result.
Mr Cumming was attacked from behind as he left his car. Police believe his assailant could have been a hired hitman.
A reward of £10,000 has been offered to anyone who can provide information leading to an arrest.