A Nightmare That Time Cannot Heal

Nearly twenty-one years after one of Fife’s most horrifying crimes, the families of Nicola Johnstone and Kevin Braid continue to live in the shadow of unimaginable loss. Their killer, Shaun Alexander, known infamously as the “Hot Tub Murderer,” has once again been denied parole — a decision that brings a measure of relief but reopens wounds that have never truly healed.

The tragedy unfolded on October 10, 2004, when Alexander, driven by jealousy and rage, launched a vicious attack on his ex-wife and her friends as they relaxed in a hot tub in Leslie, Fife. Nicola, just 23 years old, was stabbed eight times in a brutal assault that ended her life. Kevin Braid, a 41-year-old father of two, was beaten with a crowbar and fatally stabbed in the chest. Two others, Barry Greig and Claire Richie, were also attacked — Barry suffering devastating, lifelong injuries while Claire narrowly escaped with her life.

Even after two decades behind bars, Alexander has shown no remorse, no accountability, and no sign of rehabilitation — leaving the victims’ families haunted by both the past and the fear of what could happen should he ever be released.

Families Relieved but Still Living in Fear

This week, the families of Nicola and Kevin were informed that Shaun Alexander’s parole had once again been denied following a hearing before the parole board. The decision brings temporary peace, yet for those left behind, every parole review reignites the trauma.

One family member, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed the ongoing fear that looms over them: “He’s a callous individual who has not shown one shred of remorse in all the years he’s had to contemplate what he did. We have no confidence that he’s changed — and if he were ever freed, we would live in fear for our lives.”

Alexander was originally sentenced to 17 years in prison in 2005, later increased to 20 years upon appeal. Despite this, he has made multiple bids for parole — all denied, including this latest attempt. Each hearing forces the families to relive the pain of their loss, the horror of that night, and the ongoing uncertainty of what might happen if he were ever released.

Remembering Nicola and Kevin — Lives Taken Too Soon

While the justice system continues to deny Alexander freedom, the families of Nicola Johnstone and Kevin Braid focus on keeping their loved ones’ memories alive. Both Nicola and Kevin were described as kind, loving souls — people who lit up every room they entered. Their lives were stolen in an instant, yet their memory endures through the love of those who refuse to let them be forgotten.

For the families, justice has always been about more than punishment; it’s about protection, peace, and remembrance. As they mark 21 years since the tragedy, they call on the public to remember Nicola and Kevin not as victims of a brutal crime, but as vibrant, compassionate individuals whose lives were cut short by violence.

The denial of parole for Shaun Alexander is a small victory — a moment of safety in a story defined by sorrow. Yet the pain remains, echoing across two decades. In their hearts, Nicola and Kevin’s families continue to carry their memories with love, praying that the justice system will continue to protect the peace their loved ones were so cruelly denied.