Football fans asked to help solve notorious Aberdeen murder 43 years on

Football fans attending Aberdeen's Pittodrie stadium this weekend will be asked to help solve one of Scotland's most notorious unsolved murders.

Taxi driver George "Dod" Murdoch, 58, was found dead beside his cab on the outskirts of the city in September 1983. A cheese-wire garrotte was discovered nearby.

Shortly after the killing, detectives took the unusual step of stationing officers at every turnstile at Pittodrie, searching for potential clues such as hand injuries among supporters attending an Aberdeen v Celtic match.

On Sunday, the club's matchday programme will revisit the case in the hope that it sparks a memory which could finally identify Murdoch's killer.

The taxi driver had picked up a fare in Aberdeen's west end on the evening of 29 September 1983 and told his control room he was heading to Culter.

He never reached his destination.

About two miles into the journey, he turned onto Pitfodels Station Road, where he was attacked and murdered.

Two cyclists witnessed the assault and raised the alarm, but by the time officers arrived it was too late.

Murdoch's wallet and cash were taken, although police have never established whether robbery was the motive.

A murder inquiry was launched, but despite decades of investigation no-one has ever been charged.

Murdoch's widow, Jessie, who died in 2004 without seeing the case solved, had long feared for her husband's safety, and he had often reassured her that he would never resist if confronted by a robber.

In recent years, detectives have re-examined DNA evidence recovered from the scene and explored possible family links. The case has also featured on the BBC programme Crimewatch.

Murdoch's nephew, Alex McKay, was 26 when his uncle was murdered in 1983, and has long campaigned for justice.

He and his wife Robina hope this weekend's initiative could bring new information to light.

"We always hope to get the message out there, looking for somebody that has some piece of information," McKay told BBC Scotland News.

"They may not even know it's important, but it may well be not just important but essential in terms of helping us solve this case."

Asked if he believed there was someone who knows what happened to his uncle, he replied "100%".

His wife said detectives at the time were convinced that the attacker would have cuts on his hands and possibly bruises to his face.

"So they decided to man all 44 of the turnstiles at Aberdeen, checking the hands of every single male who entered the turnstiles in the 20-30 age group," she said.

She added: "Knowing the couple, what his wife went through, he doesn't deserve that and he deserves to find justice.

"It's funny, we're often asked so what's the point? All that's important is that we get his name. If we knew who did this, just a name, I feel that would be justice for Dod."

A £50,000 reward offer was previously made in the hope of finally finding the killer.

Police Scotland can be contacted via 101 or emailed through a dedicated inbox at SCDHOLMESAberdeen@scotland.pnn.police.uk