DETECTIVES investigating the murder of a shopkeeper who was stabbed in his own store have issued a fresh appeal for information, almost two months after his death.
Javaid Ali, 48, was attacked in Sunshine Grocers in Green Road, Paisley on June 15. He died in the town's Royal Alexandra Hospital on June 29.
Advert trailers will be stationed at Phoenix Retail Park, Renfrewshire, and at Braehead Shopping Centre, Glasgow, over the next few weeks, urging anyone with information to contact Strathclyde Police. The ads also remind people that a £50,000 reward is offered for information which leads to an arrest or conviction.
Police said they want to speak to anyone who was in Sunshine Grocers on the day of the murder.
Detective Superintendent Bobby Hendren said: "We have received a positive response from the local community throughout this investigation – I know many people were deeply shocked by what happened.
"However, we have still to establish a motive for the attack and trace whoever is responsible for the murder of Mr Ali, and I believe the answer lies locally.
"We have received a lot of information from the public, a small amount of which I would describe as local rumour and I want to assure people that we have fully investigated these lines of inquiry.
"However, please do not assume we have all the information we need. Any small detail could prove vital. There may be reasons why people have not come forward and I would like to take this opportunity to point out that a well-known, hard-working family man has been murdered and his family has been left devastated trying to come to terms with his death."
Abbas Ali, 25, one of Mr Ali's three sons, has paid tribute to his father. "He was a wonderful father, husband, son and friend. He meant so much to us and it is heartbreaking to know we will never see or speak to him again," he said.
Around 60 police officers are investigating the murder. They have taken around 800 statements from people and have visited more than 700 homes during door-to-door inquiries.
Police have also distributed around 4000 leaflets and have placed posters at various locations.
The murder was also featured on the BBC Crimewatch programme on Thursday, July 19.
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