The list of 200 potential matches was created through collaboration between Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency, who are working together to explore family connections.

Police Scotland has made a significant breakthrough in the nearly 41-year-old murder case of taxi driver George 'Dod' Murdoch, identifying 200 individuals potentially linked to a DNA profile from the crime scene.

Murdoch's family has expressed gratitude for the police's renewed efforts, describing the DNA breakthrough as a 'huge leap forward' in the quest for answers.

Alex McKay, Murdoch's nephew, has urged the public to discuss the case with older family members, as they may possess valuable information regarding the murder.

McKay believes that while close relatives may not reveal the killer's identity, more distant family members could hold crucial information to solve the case.

Currently, there have been no arrests related to the murder, and the investigation remains ongoing, with police appealing for any additional information.

The new DNA advancements have allowed investigators to compile a list of potential familial DNA matches, prompting police to seek interviews with these individuals.

George Murdoch was brutally murdered on September 29, 1983, after he reported to his control room that he was en route to Culter, and he was fatally assaulted with a cheese wire.

Despite extensive investigations over the years, including taking 8,000 statements from the public, the case went cold with no leads until this recent development.

Detective Inspector James Callander expressed hope that the new DNA data could provide justice for Murdoch's family, even if the killer is deceased.

As part of the investigation, police are also seeking information about a man seen in 2015 wearing an Iron Maiden T-shirt outside Wilson’s Sports Bar in Aberdeen.

The case remains a painful memory for Murdoch's family, particularly for his wife Jessie, who passed away in 2004 without knowing her husband's killer.