Widow appeals for help in finding husband's killer

Tuesday 11 September 2012

THE widow of a man found dying in a city street nearly a month ago has appealed for anyone with information to "do the decent thing" and help police catch her husband's killer.

DISTRAUGHT: Donna McMurchie has appealed for anyone with information about the death of her husband John to come forward and help the police. Main picture: Alan Richardson

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Hilary Duncanson

Donna McMurchie, 39, said the cruel way in which her partner John was killed made it all the more difficult for the family to come to terms with his untimely death.

She said someone knows what happened to him and urged members of the community to "look to their conscience" and ensure justice can be done.

Mr McMurchie, 50, from Errol, Perthshire, was discovered with serious injuries in Dundee's Fintry Terrace in the early hours of Sunday, August 12.The father-of-five, who also had two grandchildren, later died in hospital.Police believe he was murdered but have yet to make an arrest.A £5000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for the death.Yesterday, Mrs McMurchie attended a press conference in Dundee, where a statement was read out on her behalf. She said: "John's killer is still out there and, like the police have done, I appeal to people out there to help detectives with their inquiries."Someone out there, in the community, knows what happened to John. I would ask them to do the decent thing, ease my family's suffering and tell the police what they know."Mr McMurchie, who worked as a security guard, was born and raised in Lochee and attended Lochee primary school and Harris Academy.His widow described the Dundee United fan as a "people person" who loved being with his family or socialising with his friends at the Dolphin Bar or the Whitfield Labour Club, where he was a regular.She described her husband of 22 years as "the love of my life, my world" and told how he was adored by his children and grandchildren.Mrs McMurchie said his death has left the family with many questions. She said: "John was my rock. He always made me feel safe and protected."Now, the whole family are struggling to come to terms with the cruel and untimely way John was taken. If it had been natural causes, it might have been easier to accept."He was a loving husband and a brilliant father who was always there for his wife and children, through good times and bad. He was a brilliant grand-dad, who was happy playing the fool for his grandchildren to make them laugh."To have lost him in this way is heartbreaking and it has left us with so many questions; questions we know someone has the answers to, if they would only come forward."Nothing will bring John back into our lives but we hope someone out there will look to their conscience and help to make sure that for John's sake – and for all of our sakes – justice can be done."Mrs McMurchie was joined at the press conference by her son Kris, 22, and her husband's sister-in-law, 32-year-old Paula Thomas.It is known Mr McMurchie spent the Saturday before he died in city pubs including the Dolphin Bar, the Balmore Bar and the Albert Bar.He then went to an address in Murrayfield Gardens, leaving the house between 3.30am and 4am.A team of almost 20 detectives and support specialists at Tayside Police has been working on the inquiry. They have so far interviewed almost 200 people and conducted an "extensive search" of the area.The detective leading the murder hunt, Detective Inspector Bobby Dow, said: "My message is quite clear, as it has been from the outset."If you were in the area of Fintry Terrace and Whitfield Drive between the hours of 3am and 4.30am, please come forward and speak to Tayside Police."I would appeal specifically to those who are aware of previous appeals but have not yet come forward, perhaps because they feel they have nothing of note to say. Please, come forward as soon as possible. Let us decide how important the information you have is."Tayside Police can be contacted on 0300 111 2222. The inquiry team can also be reached on 01382 591 940.

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Widow appeals for help in finding husband's killer

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