Specialist Covid death investigation conclude first cases but yet to prosecute after three years

A specialist Crown Office team investigating 5,688 Covid deaths has concluded its first cases but is yet to prosecute any organisations or individuals after three years.Documents seen by the Sunday Mail reveals extra money has been sought from the Scottish Government in a bid to clear the massive backlog and decide whether criminal proceedings or Fatal Accident Inquiries need to be ordered.Former lord advocate James Wolffe promised the investigations - which could lead to criminal prosecutions - in May 2020 in the face of public outrage at the failure to protect the most vulnerable people.Over 16,000 people in Scotland have died with Covid since the outbreak began, with thousands passing away in care homes.The Sunday Mail first revealed in April 2020 that infected patients were being discharged from hospital untested into homes full of highly vulnerable residents.Aamer Anwar, lead solicitor for Scottish Covid Bereaved, said: “Families appreciate that for Crown Office, this is the most complex and onerous investigation into deaths ever to take place.“But each month and year that passes compounds their pain and one would have hoped that at the very least that Crown Office would have announced prosecutions of at least one care home, health trust or prison for culpable homicide or a health and safety breach.“The grieving families deserve more than just the regular patronising updates that tell them absolutely nothing.”The revelations come after Nicola Sturgeon gave evidence to a public inquiry in London last week.She was warned by a top lawyer she was in a witness box not a “soap box” after claiming Brexit diverted resources which would have better prepared Scotland for the pandemic.Opposition politicians have now also