Police investigating the cheese wire murder of taxi driver George Murdoch have identified 200 possible genetic matches to a DNA profile recovered from the scene of the crime.
The breakthrough was announced on Thursday – ahead of the 41st anniversary of the brutal killing in Aberdeen – and comes a year after a DNA profile was identified in connection with the case.
Mr Murdoch, who was known as Dod, was attacked with a cheese wire in his taxi on the evening of 29 September 1983.
The 58-year-old had told his control room that he was heading to Culter, but he never reached his destination.
He was attacked at around 8.45pm after turning into Pitfodels Station Road on the outskirts of the city.
No one has ever been arrested over the murder.
In an update on Thursday, Police Scotland said the DNA profile identified in 2023 has since been further enhanced to allow the force to search the National DNA Database for any potential relatives of the suspected killer, known as familial DNA.
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Working with the National Crime Agency (NCA), the force has compiled an initial list of 200 possible genetic matches to the profile.
Officers will now attempt to contact these people to establish any family link.
Detective Inspector James Callander said: “This new DNA data is significant and will help us take a step closer to getting justice for Mr Murdoch’s family.
“The familial DNA links identified will assist in tracing people who can help with our enquiries.
“I want to make clear these individuals are not suspects, but we hope they may be able to help with our ongoing investigation.
“I would ask everyone to think back to when George was murdered. If you have any concerns at all from around that time, please don’t dismiss them and contact us.
“The solving of this horrific crime requires the help of the public. I would urge anyone with information to please come forward.
“We want to give George’s family some much-needed closure.”
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Police Scotland’s major investigation team has continued to review and investigate the case.
In 2022, officers issued an appeal for information to track down a man seen in Wilson’s Sports Bar on Market Street, Aberdeen, in September 2015.
He was wearing an Iron Maiden t-shirt and was described as small, stocky, in his 60 or 70s, and local to the city.
Officers are still seeking information to trace the man, who they believe will be able to help with the investigation.
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In regards to the DNA breakthrough, Police Scotland said familial DNA allows the force to identify potential close relatives of an individual whose profile is not on the National DNA Database.
Familial DNA searching is based upon the principle that DNA is inherited and all members of a family share certain aspects of their DNA.
Children share half their DNA from their father and half with their mother. The extent to which siblings share their DNA is variable, but they will tend to share more DNA than unrelated people.
In a statement released through Police Scotland, Mr Murdoch’s family said: “This latest development with the familial DNA is a huge leap forward and we thank the police for their continued endeavour in getting to this stage.
“It is very encouraging and refreshes our hope that we can finally identify who is responsible for Dod’s murder.”
