A top investigator is finally securing the CCTV that could help to catch Lanarkshire quantity surveyor Craig Mallon’s killer.
Former Strathclyde detective David Swindle has also identified a new eyewitness to the murder of the 26-year-old on the Costa Brava in the early hours of May 19, 2012.
Mr Mallon, who was working in Australia, had only been in the resort of Lloret de Mar for seven hours when he was assaulted in the street, near Rockefellers nightclub, in an unprovoked attack.
He was there with eight friends for his stepbrother Bryan’s stag-do when he was killed by a single punch in the early hours.
His parents, Antoinette, 46, and Ian, 51, flew out from Lanarkshire to identify their son’s body and a murder inquiry was launched.
It soon went cold and Mr Mallon’s former employer enlisted Mr Swindle – the brains behind Operation Anagram, which helped catch Scottish serial killer Peter Tobin, to investigate.
Through his Crime Solutions company, Mr Swindle has made breakthroughs which enabled him to release an artist’s impression of a man believed to be significant to the investigation.
Mr Swindle said: “Now, almost four years after Craig was killed, we have access to information which is allowing us to review the case properly and identify potential evidential opportunities, including details of a new eyewitness, which we have shared with the Spanish Authorities.
“The Spanish prosecutor has finally promised to release to us the CCTV for the general surrounding areas where Craig was killed.
“There was no CCTV at the spot where Craig died. However, having the footage of entrances and exits to the area will really allow us to examine descriptions.
“We can then correlate them to information we have obtained ourselves, which is contained in the detailed case file the Spanish court has given to us.”
In an exclusive interview in Chat Inside Crime magazine, Craig’s parents have revealed how the stress of losing their son has ruined their health.
Mr Mallon was forced to quit his job as a taxi driver after suffering a stroke and Mrs Mallon has been forced to seek counselling.
Now, the couple are calling for something to be done to help other families whose loved ones have been killed abroad.
Mr Mallon told Chat Inside Crime: “What we need is a Craig’s law of some kind, making it compulsory for families in our situation to be provided with the information they need, to make sure justice is done.”
Mrs Mallon, who said they had not spent Christmas at home since Craig’s death as they cannot bear being there without him, added: “It’s been almost four years since I lost my beloved Craig.
“As I keep saying, the person who punched him may not have intended to kill him and may not even be aware of their actions.
“I would ask people to reflect on their holiday in Lloret de Mar that fateful weekend.
“Have a look at the artist’s impression of a distinctive-looking man and all the social media stuff about Craig’s death, and see if you can remember anything.”
Anyone with any information is asked to email info @craigmallon.com in confidence.
The full interview with Craig and Antoinette Mallon can be read in Chat Inside Crime, on sale April 28.
