Detective to appeal on TV as part of probe into brutal Aberdeen 'cheese wire' murder of George Murdoch

A senior officer is set to appeal on national television, 40 years on from one of the Scotland’s most violent unsolved murders.

On September 29, 1983, George Murdoch was brutally murdered with a cheese wire in Aberdeen.

The taxi driver was killed around 8.45pm on Pitfodels Station Road as Mr Murdoch was on his way to pick up his last fare of the night.

Yet, despite years of analysis, the case remains one of the country’s most notorious unsolved crimes.

No-one has ever been arrested in connection with the murder of Mr Murdoch, better known to his family as ‘Dod’.

George Murdoch with his wife Jesse. Police Scotland

Multiple attempts to understand the case have been made, including a true crime podcast released earlier this year by Ryan Ogilvie, owner of Mind the Gap Creative, with the help of Mr Murdoch’s family.

Last month it was announced that advancements in forensic analysis have enabled a DNA profile to be identified, signifying a significant breakthrough in the investigation.

Police continue to seek information to identify a man who was seen wearing an Iron Maiden t-shirt in Wilson’s Sports Bar on Market Street in Aberdeen in 2015, the subject of a public appeal last year.

This week, senior investigating officer, detective inspector James Callander, of Police Scotland’s Major Investigations Team, will appear on BBC’s Crimewatch Live to encourage anyone else who may have useful information to come forward.

A recent statement by Mr Murdoch’s family said: “Our family was rocked by what happened to Dod and it continues to affect us today.

“Forty years is a long time to go without all of the answers to what happened to him, but it’s never too late to see justice served and we urge anyone with any information that could assist the investigation, no matter what it is, to contact police.

“Dod was a gentle, likeable and kind-hearted man, who usually had a smile on his face. We all miss him terribly and hope for some closure.”

Crimewatch Live will air at 10am on Tuesday and will be available on BBC iPlayer for 24 hours afterwards.

Anyone who has not come forward previously who believes they can assist the investigation should contact 101 or e-mail a dedicated inbox at SCDHOLMESAberdeen@scotland.pnn.police.uk.