Appeal for witnesses as police continue to investigate grandfather's murder

John McMurchie: Police looking for two people who might have seen him.

Police investigating the murder of a grandfather over the weekend have appealed for two people to come forward.

The pair were spotted in the area around the time that John McMurchie, 50, was found seriously injured in a Dundee street.

Tayside Police have also urged pub-goers who may have seen Mr McMurchie on Saturday night to get in touch.

The father-of-five and grandfather-of-two, from Errol in Perthshire, was discovered lying in the city's Fintry Terrace at about 4am on Sunday.

He was taken to Ninewells hospital but died a short time later. Police confirmed that they are treating his death as murder.

Officers said the two people they want to speak to were spotted between 3.55am and 4am in an area known locally as the centre path, near the Whitfield family resource centre.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Bobby Dow said: "I appreciate that these people may think that they have nothing that could be of use to our enquiries, but they were in the area at this particular time and they may have seen something, however irrelevant they believe it to be, that could help us in our efforts to find Mr McMurchie's killer.

"I urge them to come forward to speak with our officers.

"It is also known that John had been socialising with others within pubs in Dundee, including the Dolphin Bar in Fintry from about 5pm.

"They then moved on to the Balmore Bar and Albert Bar in the Stobswell area, where they remained until closing time. Thereafter, they went to an address in Murrayfield Gardens.

"If you were in those public houses and know John, if you spoke with him or if you simply recall seeing him that night, please give us a call."

Police revealed that a 63-year-old man who was arrested in connection with the incident on Tuesday has since been released without charge.

Detectives and uniformed officers were still carrying out enquiries in the Whitfield area on Wednesday, particularly near where Mr McMurchie was discovered, and at an address in Murrayfield Gardens which is said to be of interest.

Officers are also looking at CCTV footage and they have stepped up patrols in the area.

Superintendent Brian Weir said: "Crimes of this type do cause anxiety, but I would ask people to be reassured that the enquiry team is making progress and with support from the community will continue to do so."

Anyone with information can contact the enquiry team on 01382 591940 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111.