Lyndsay-Anne Forbes stands on the steps of Aberdeen Sheriff Court, clutching a T-shirt emblazoned with her brother’s face and the words “#JusticeforJamieForbes.” For her, this is more than a symbol—it’s a call to action. On January 15, 2024, her brother, Jamie Forbes, 37, fell to his death from the twelfth floor of Elphinstone Court, Aberdeen, after enduring two days of torture at the hands of Lee Smith. The case has left a city reeling, a family searching for answers, and a growing chorus demanding change in how emergency services respond to cries for help.
According to BBC Scotland News, Jamie’s ordeal began when he was held captive in Smith’s flat. Over the course of two harrowing days, he was repeatedly struck with a hammer, punched, and kicked. The abuse was so severe, a judge later heard, that Jamie felt he had no choice but to escape—ultimately by leaping from a window. Bloodstains were found throughout the flat, and police would later discover that the door lock had been altered, making it impossible for Jamie to get out on his own.
What makes this tragedy even more haunting is that Jamie’s pleas for help did not go unheard. Residents in the building, including one on the tenth floor, reported hearing a male voice crying out, “please help me.” Multiple 999 calls were made, but despite these alerts, police officers conducting door-to-door inquiries were unable to locate the source of the distress. When they finally entered Smith’s flat, Jamie was already gone—his body found naked on the ground below, a stark testament to the horror he endured.
Lee Smith, also 37, was arrested at the scene. He was found washing dishes in his bloodstained kitchen. In December 2024, at the High Court in Edinburgh, Smith admitted to culpable homicide and was sentenced to eight years in prison. Judge Lady Hood told the court that the violence inflicted on Jamie was so extreme, “he had no other option but to jump out of the window.”
For Jamie’s family, the pain is compounded by questions that remain unanswered. Lyndsay-Anne Forbes has been outspoken about her belief that her brother was failed by the very systems meant to protect him. “We need answers into why no one came to help Jamie despite there being multiple calls to the emergency services by members of the public,” she said in a statement published by the Daily Record. “Why didn’t the Police find him? Why didn’t they follow up on the calls from the public?”
Lyndsay-Anne describes her brother as “kind and gentle,” someone who always tried to protect her. “Jamie would have thought someone was coming to save him, he had faith,” she told BBC Scotland News. “I’m haunted thinking about how scared he must have been in that flat and how he must have felt when he realised no one was coming to save him.” Her grief is palpable, but so too is her resolve: “I want there to be change or a new law put in place, called Jamie’s Law, which will make sure no other family has to go through what I have gone through.”
So what is Jamie’s Law? As Lyndsay-Anne explains, “Jamie’s Law is essentially what they should have been doing in the first place. When [police] are called to an incident, of anybody hearing anybody scream, or anybody in distress, that unit cannot leave there until you find that person and make sure they are safe. That’s how simple Jamie’s Law is.” She believes that if such a policy had been in place, her brother’s life could have been saved. “He would be traumatised, but we could have helped him with that. But he’s not, he’s dead—and I refuse to let him die for nothing.”
The campaign for Jamie’s Law has garnered support from legal professionals and the public alike. Richard Pitts, a partner at Digby Brown Solicitors, is representing Lyndsay-Anne in the proceedings. He told BBC Scotland News, “Jamie Forbes was a vulnerable person who should have been helped by the emergency services. The purpose of the fatal accident inquiry is to find answers to the many questions Lyndsay-Anne has about her brother’s death. It’s imperative we get these answers so lessons can be learned to ensure proper protections are put in place to stop this happening again.”
The legal process is now unfolding. The preliminary hearing for the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) began at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on October 7, 2025. The FAI is expected to scrutinize the actions of emergency services and whether systemic failures contributed to Jamie’s death. Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on death investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), underscored the gravity of the situation: “The death of James Forbes occurred in circumstances giving rise to serious public concern and as such the Lord Advocate has decided that a discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiry should be held.” He added, “An FAI will allow a full public airing of the evidence of the procurator fiscal’s wider investigations with interested parties. The evidence will be tested in a public setting and be the subject of an independent judicial determination.”
Police Scotland, for its part, has extended condolences to the Forbes family and pledged to cooperate fully with the inquiry. “Our thoughts remain with the family of Jamie Forbes,” a spokesperson said. “Police Scotland will co-operate fully with the Fatal Accident Inquiry into his death and carefully consider any findings or further actions.” The Scottish government echoed this sentiment, with a spokesperson stating, “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Jamie Forbes for their devastating loss. It will now be for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to establish the full circumstances of the death, and for a sheriff, through the fatal accident inquiry, to consider what lessons may be learned.”
As the inquiry proceeds, the case has sparked a wider debate in Scotland about the responsibilities of emergency services and the need for stronger safeguards for vulnerable individuals. While some argue that police did what they could under difficult circumstances, others believe that Jamie’s case exposes a dangerous gap in current procedures—one that Jamie’s Law could help close. The outcome of the FAI may shape not only the future of policing policy but also the lives of countless others who find themselves in desperate need of help.
For Lyndsay-Anne Forbes, the fight is personal. “I would give anything to not be in this position and to have my big brother back,” she said. “He always tried to protect me as my big brother, now it’s my turn to look out for him.” Her campaign is a testament to the enduring bond of family—and a stark reminder of the human cost when systems fail.
As Scotland awaits the findings of the Fatal Accident Inquiry, one thing is clear: the call for justice, accountability, and reform is not fading away. The hope is that out of tragedy, real change will emerge—so that the next cry for help does not go unanswered.
