Reward offered over city murder

Sep 6 2012

A £5,000 reward is being offered for information about the murder of a grandfather found badly injured in a city street.

Police have yet to make an arrest over the death of 50-year-old John McMurchie who was discovered lying in Dundee's Fintry Terrace in the early hours of Sunday August 12.

The father-of-five, who had two grandchildren, later died in hospital. The charity Crimestoppers is offering the cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the death of Mr McMurchie from Errol in Perthshire.

Scottish head Kate Jackson said: "Any drivers, passengers or pedestrians who were around the Whitfield area that Sunday between 3am and 4am who saw or heard anything unusual, please contact us anonymously, even if your information seems irrelevant.

"All genuine information is valuable to us and could help identify who is responsible for the sad murder of this innocent man whose life has been taken away from his family and loved ones."

Dundee United fan Mr McMurchie spent Saturday evening in city pubs the Dolphin Bar, the Balmore Bar and the Albert Bar and then went to an address in Murrayfield Gardens. He left the house between 3.30am and 4am. Tayside Police have urged any pub-goers who saw him during the night to get in touch and appealed to football fans for information from a match between Dundee United and Dundee at Tannadice Stadium.

The force said on Thursday that officers spoke to a man, pictured in CCTV footage, whom they were keen to trace.

Detective Inspector Bobby Dow said: "We are grateful that this man came forward as soon as he realised that we were keen to speak with him. I want to take this opportunity to appeal to others to take his lead and get in touch with us if they were in the area where Mr McMurchie was discovered in the early hours of Sunday morning."

Investigators want to speak to drivers, passengers and pedestrians who passed through Fintry Terrace and Whitfield Drive between 3am and 4.30am. The team has begun tracing the 50 or so taxi drivers who were on duty in Dundee at the time.

Mr Dow said: "As I have stated before, the answers to finding the person responsible for John's death lie within the community. Please don't presume that we know you were in the area during the times mentioned. Come forward and speak with us."