Relatives of the serial killer Peter Tobin have declined to be represented as his next of kin at an inquiry into his death.
The 76-year-old was serving three life sentences when he suffered a fall in his jail cell in September 2022.
He died in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary a month later and had his ashes scattered at sea after no-one claimed his body.
A preliminary hearing was told that Police Scotland had contacted two members of Tobin’s family to ask if they wanted to take part in the inquiry.
Prosecutor Fiscal Depute Richard Brown told the hearing: “Neither wished to act as next of kin.”
All deaths of prisoners in Scotland are the subject of a mandatory fatal accidents inquiry (FAI), with close relatives entitled to legal representation.
Tobin murdered Vicky Hamilton and Dinah McNicol in 1991 and Angelika Kluk in 2007.
He was terminally ill with cancer when he had his fall.
Tobin was taken to hospital the next day and given palliative care until his death on 8 October.
He was monitored by GeoAmey security offices during his stay in hospital.
The purpose of a FAI is to establish what happened and prevent future deaths from taking place in similar circumstances.
The preliminary hearing was told that none of the evidence is in dispute and no witnesses will be called.
Originally the FAI was scheduled to last for two days in September but it is now expected to be concluded in less than half a day.
