Family of man stabbed through heart in Dundee make fresh appeal for information

TAYSIDE Police today launched a fresh appeal for information in the four month murder hunt for the killer of a grandfather, found dying in a Dundee street from a single stab wound through the heart.

John McMurchie, 50, was discovered lying in Dundee’s Fintry Terrace a in the Whitfield area of the city about 4am on Sunday, 12 August. He died a short time later in the city’s Ninewells Hospital.

Mr McMurchie, from Errol in Perthshire, was a devoted Dundee United fan and had been socialising in pubs in Dundee on the day he died.

Two months ago his grief-stricken widow, Donna McMurchie, 39, broke down in tears as she made an emotional appeal for the public’s help in tracking down the killer responsible for murdering the “love of my life”.

Detective Inspector Bobby Dow, who is leading the manhunt, revealed today that the force was still looking for a vital breakthrough in the case, despite taking more than 1000 witness statements in connection with Mr McMurchie’s death.

And he said the dedicated enquiry team maintained a daily focus in its efforts to bring his killer to justice.

Det Insp Dow said‘‘I’m satisfied that we have essentially spoken to every taxi and delivery driver who was working in the area on that Saturday night into Sunday morning. We have also identified dozens of house parties that were ongoing at the time and identified people who were at those parties in the hope they might be able to offer useful information to our enquiries.

‘‘While this in itself has been a big undertaking, it only forms one aspect of the investigation. In addition, we have had officers dedicated to trawling through days and days of public and private CCTV coverage and we have had people spoken with as a result of this work.

‘‘Items of forensic interest have been recovered during the course of the search activity, some of which is still subject to detailed examination. An address that is of potential interest to the investigation has also been retained by Tayside Police to allow us to carry out further forensic enquiry as deemed appropriate and necessary.”

He added: “A great deal of work continues but we do still want to hear from any member of the public who has information that could help us to hold the person responsible to account. It may be that they haven’t spoken with us yet or possibly someone who has spoken with our officers but who has new information that could be of value. Please get in touch and let us decide.’’

He also paid tribute to Mr McMurchie’s family. Det Insp Dow said: “John’s family are as well as can be expected in the circumstances but, like us, they want the breakthrough that will lead to the person responsible for John’s death being put before the courts. As time passes, things don’t get any easier for them but we are in regular contact and keep them informed of the enquiry’s progress.

‘‘We very much appreciate their support and they know that there is a team of dedicated officers and staff who are as focused and determined now as they were in August to detect this terrible crime.’’

The charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £5000 to anyone providing information that leads to the arrest and conviction of any person in connection with John McMurchie’s murder.