A huge cash reward for information leading to the capture of a killer who garrotted an Aberdeen taxi driver has doubled to £50,000.
George “Dod” Murdoch was brutally attacked by a mystery man with a cheese wire on September 29 1983.
The 58-year-old’s murder remains unsolved but it’s hoped the doubling of an existing £25,000 reward for information might help to crack the case.
Mr Murdoch’s nephew Alex McKay and his wife Robina have boosted the fund, hoping that family and friends of the killer might now think twice about protecting him.
“Some people who are prepared to take this secret to their grave might have a price to reconsider,” Mrs McKay said, in her first-ever media interview about the tragedy.
“They’ve been loyal to the killer for 39 years but it’s now time for them to think of themselves. This £50,000 reward could help to give them a fresh start.”
Before his death, Mr Murdoch had collected his last-ever fare on Aberdeen’s Queen’s Road before travelling to Pitfodels Station Road, Cults, where he died.
Dod was discovered dying on the ground next to his Ford Cortina which was missing the taxi’s takings from that evening.
The unusual deadly weapon, a cheese wire, was recovered nearby and detectives continue to believe that the motive for Dod’s murder was theft.
But over almost four decades investigators have struggled to uncover the killer’s identity.
£50,000 cash reward
George Murdoch’s nephew Alex McKay said that his uncle “needlessly died a painful and brutal death”.
Mr McKay and his brother were the first to pledge £10,000 towards a potential payout for information leading to the confirmed identification of the so-called Cheese Wire Killer.
That sum was matched by Aberdeen Journals last year and later increased with another £5,000 from the taxi firm that Mr Murdoch worked for, which is now part of Rainbow City Taxis
Alex explained: “Most people are not coming forward with information because of the reward but it may tempt one of two who haven’t come forward yet”.
The couple’s latest headline-grabbing announcement puts the unsolved case back into the public spotlight just days after a significant development.
Potential key witness
The Press and Journal reported last week that detectives are trying to trace a potential key witness from the city.
A major investigation team were last year handed a photograph featuring an Aberdonian man whose face cannot be seen but who is wearing an Iron Maiden T-shirt from The Final Frontier tour of Germany.
The small and stocky man, now thought to be in his 60s or 70s, was in the company of other drinkers at Wilson’s Sports Bar on Market Street in late 2015.
He appeared to know details of George Murdoch’s murder that may assist with identifying his killer, Police Scotland has confirmed.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector James Callander is leading the latest police probe.
He explained: “It’s hugely significant 38 years on – 39 now – for somebody to come forward with information like that. It’s quite remarkable and prudent for us to follow it up.
“It’s hugely significant and hopefully, we can identify who he is and get one step closer to solving the case.”
‘People know something’
The fresh lead has renewed hopes of securing justice for murdered Mr Murdoch and his loved ones whose lives were devastated.
His wife Jessie was cruelly forced to live without her husband for 20 years before she passed away in 2004, without knowing who killed her beloved Dod.
The killer had taken George Murdoch’s wallet and his taxi’s takings which amounted to anywhere between £21 and £35.
Potentially useful information has continued to come into detectives through the George Murdoch Murder Facebook page.
Robina McKay explained: “There has been a huge increase in tips coming in as the value of the reward has been increasing.
“This case can be solved with the help of the public. People know something. We’ve always felt that.”
Case to feature on Crimewatch Live
Later this month, the BBC television programme Crimewatch Live will again feature the notorious north-east cold case.
The morning show has previously aired a reconstruction of events on the night when Mr Murdoch died.
Det Insp Callander will travel to the TV studio to participate in a live broadcast to demonstrate the Iron Maiden T-shirt at the centre of the latest police appeal.
He will also promote the recently doubled £50,000 reward for information leading to the confirmed identification of the killer.
Anyone who has not come forward previously who believes they can assist the investigation should telephone 101 or e-mail: SCDHOLMESAberdeen@scotland.police.uk or private message the George Murdoch Murder Facebook page.
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