40 Years On: The Chilling ‘Cheese Wire Murder’ of Aberdeen Taxi Driver George Murdoch
It’s been four decades since Aberdeen taxi driver George Murdoch was savagely killed in what’s still known as the infamous ‘Cheese Wire Murder’. As the 40th anniversary looms this Friday, the hunt for answers continues, driven by the determination of the Murdoch family.
Tragic Night in September 1983
George Murdoch, a well-loved local from the city’s 123 area, wasn’t a fan of night shifts – a worry his wife Jessie often voiced. But George always said he’d never resist if held up, choosing to hand over money rather than risk a fight.
That fateful night on September 29, 1983, saw George pick up a passenger on Queen’s Road before heading towards Pitfodels. But help came too late. The attacker struck brutal blows with a cheese wire, stealing George’s fare money and wallet before fleeing.
The community was left shaken and reeling from the horror of that attack, and despite a massive investigation — knocking on around 10,000 doors and gathering over 8,000 witness statements — the killer slipped through the net.
Cold Case Details: Who Killed George Murdoch?
- Suspect: Male, 20–30 years old
- Appearance: 5ft 7in, thin, short dark hair, clean-shaven
- Clothing: Dark clothes, possibly stained with blood
- Weapon: Cheese wire, suggesting the crime was planned
- Motive: Unknown, robbery or something darker
Despite decades passing, the reasons behind the murder remain a mystery, and no arrest has been made.
New Leads and Ongoing Family Pleas
The Murdoch family never gave up. “Even after 38 years, a family cares. We’ve always cared. We always will,” they said.
Last year, a new lead emerged. Police asked the public to help trace a man spotted in Wilson’s Sports Bar in 2015. The man, in his 60s or 70s, wore an Iron Maiden T-shirt and is thought to know something vital to cracking the case.
If you have any information on George Murdoch’s murder, contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
The ‘Cheese Wire Murder’ Remains Scotland’s Dark Mystery
George Murdoch’s murder remains one of the most haunting unsolved crimes in Aberdeen and Scotland. But with every fresh appeal, hope flickers that justice will one day be served. Until then, the city remembers a life tragically cut short.
