By Craig Smith

FIFE’S homicide rate has risen to its highest level in a decade, according to statistics published by the Scottish Government yesterday.

Figures revealed five people were unlawfully killed in the region in the year ending April 2007—in the same period between 2005 and 2006 two murders were recorded.

Four of the five deaths took place in a five-week period from the beginning of September 2006, giving police one of their busiest periods ever for dealing with homicides.

In all cases except one, the victims knew their attackers.

The statistics come after the family of one of the five people killed helped launch a campaign against alcohol-fuelled violence earlier this month.

Dawn and Jim Archer called on members of the public to report incidents after their son Craig was the victim of an unprovoked stabbing near Glenrothes’ Glamis Centre on September 16, 2006.

The 24-year-old’s attackers had been drinking, behaving in a threatening manner and brandishing knives for over two hours before they turned their attention to Mr Archer, who had been on his way to play pool at a nearby pub.

Mr Archer, who was stabbed repeatedly, died from the injuries he sustained later that day and three men were subsequently jailed for life at the High Court in Edinburgh for their part in the attack.

His father Jim said, “I was never a violent or bitter person before this happened, but I cannot begin to tell you the anger I feel towards the people who did this to my son.

“We have to live with the fact that these men had been drinking all day and carrying on like this for more than two hours—but nobody had told the police.”

Mr Archer’s death started the run of homicides last year, with four more taking place before April 30 this year.

The body of Kelty woman Lisa Nelson (26) was discovered in the cupboard of a flat in Leven on October 12 after she had been strangled by her lover David Whitelaw (46) days earlier.

Whitelaw had wrapped her body in layers of black plastic bin bags, hid her in the cupboard, locked it then fled the scene.

On October 14 father-of-two Brian Bowie (35) from Dunfermline was kicked, stabbed and set alight by assailants Bryan Boyle (18) and Greig Maddock (21), dying of his injuries a few days later.

Forty-two-year-old Colin Watson was then stabbed to death by his stepson Michael Watson (19) at a flat in Fraser Avenue, Inverkeithing, on October 24, 2006.

Buckhaven man Cornelius Letters (22) became the fifth victim on April 7 when he was stabbed after a drunken play fight with his friend got out of hand at an address in Methil.

Superintendent Martin Birrell, the force’s spokesperson on violent crime, said the deaths showed what happens when violence and alcohol combine.

“We need to know from the public where violence is occurring and who is behind it.

“We are working more than ever in an intelligence-led environment where we can then identify who is behind these crimes, confiscate weapons and make arrests.”

Fife statistics have varied over the past 10 years, ranging from one case in 1997-98 to two in 1999-2000, 2001-02, 2002-3 and 2005-6.

Three cases were recorded in 1998-99, 2000-1, 2003-4 and 2004/5.

National figures for the year to April 2007 saw homicide in Scotland rise by over a quarter on last year, with 118 cases involving 119 victims reported in 2006-7 compared to 93 the previous year.

Knives or other sharp instruments were used in almost half of the killings, and 84% of victims were male.

Almost half of the 167 accused of the deaths were reported to have been drunk or under the influence of drugs at the time, with 92% of those accused being men.

Six out of Scotland’s eight police forces saw an increase in homicide figures, with statistics in Tayside falling and no homicide cases reported in Dumfries and Galloway.

However, 76 of the 118 homicide cases were in the Strathclyde force area—64% of the total.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said, “These depressingly familiar statistics show the long-term challenge we face.

“We are taking action to tackle Scotland’s drinking culture now —while strongly supporting the longer-term strategy to change personal and cultural attitudes towards alcohol.”