A fresh appeal for information to help catch the killer of a father of five has failed to provide a breakthrough, police said last night.
However, the officer leading the hunt for John McMurchie’s murderer said the three-day operation in the Whitfield area of Dundee had been “of benefit”.
Mr McMurchie died from a single stab wound to the heart almost six months ago. He succumbed to his injuries after being found in Fintry Terrace at around 4am on Sunday August 12.
Uniformed officers and detectives have spoken to more than 100 householders since Tuesday, with flyers left at homes where there was no answer.
Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Bobby Dow said it was still unclear what exactly happened in the build-up to Mr McMurchie’s death.
He said: “The door-to-door inquiries conducted so far have been of benefit. No significant line of inquiry has resulted from these but we have identified other people that we want to speak to.
“Last night officers also visited the local community centre to speak to people and distribute flyers.”
Mr Dow said the key areas of inquiry were finding the murder weapon and speaking to any witnesses to Mr McMurchie’s murder.
“That will always remain the case,” he said, adding that officers may distribute leaflets across a wider area than the 126 houses covered this week.
Mr McMurchie had been socialising at an address in nearby Murrayfield Gardens shortly before he was found fatally injured in Fintry Terrace.
Police have said he got into a “significant physical altercation” with someone in the building and it is understood forensic teams found Mr McMurchie’s blood in the property.
The house was returned to its occupier on Monday following a five-month forensic investigation there.
Anyone who has any information that may assist the inquiry should get in touch with police on 0300 111 2222.
Alternatively they can speak to any officer.
gogston@thecourier.co.uk