Reward Offered in Renewed Bid to Find John Murray's Killer

£20,000 available for information on death of 'well-liked' grandfather

The victim John Murray was well liked by his neighbours. Picture: Met Police

August 5, 2025

A reward is being offered in a renewed attempt to find out who was responsible for the brutal killing of a 75-year-old man in Chiswick last year.

Police and Crimestoppers are appealing to the public for information following the fatal assault on John Murray. A reward of up to £20,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

John Murray, a retired father and grandfather, was found unconscious on the second-floor balcony of his flat at 81 Carlton Road, near the junction with Southfield Road, at around 3:30pm on Saturday, 12 October 2024. Despite the efforts of emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Initially, a post-mortem suggested his death may not have involved foul play. However, further pathology results confirmed that Mr Murray died from a head injury caused by an assault, prompting a full murder investigation.

John had moved to Chiswick after retiring and was known for his kindness and community spirit. Neighbours described him as someone who was always willing to lend a hand, often seen riding his motorbike or tending to the communal gardens.

John’s family issued a statement saying “As a family, we are still struggling to understand why someone would harm a 75-year-old defenceless man in his own home. We cannot move on with our lives until we have some answers. To anyone with information, please come forward and help the police get justice for our family.”

Neighbours echoed the appeal with one adding, “This is a close-knit community. All of us are reeling from the shock of finding out that John had been murdered. He was a lovely man, a good friend and neighbour who had been at the centre of the community for years. None of us can understand why anyone would do this to him. We hope this appeal will lead to justice for John.”

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Howie, who is leading the investigation, said, “John was a father, grandfather, and a well-liked neighbour, who was brutally murdered in his own home. We are making progress in our investigation, but we need the public’s help to get John, his family and friends the justice they deserve.”

DCI Howie urged anyone who saw or heard anything unusual around Carlton Road—such as signs of a struggle or argument—to come forward. He also appealed to those who knew John to report any changes in his behaviour in the weeks leading up to his death. Police are particularly interested in CCTV, dashcam, or doorbell footage from the area on or around the date of the incident.

Forensics team on Carlton Road this June. Picture: ChiswickW4.com

Independent charity Crimestoppers is offering the reward of up to £20,000 for information it receives anonymously that leads to a conviction. London Regional Manager Alexa Loukas said, “It’s clear that John was a much-loved family man and a popular neighbour and friend, which makes this murder even harder to comprehend. This was a deeply shocking crime that has left a family grieving and a community searching for answers.

“We know that someone out there has information that could help bring those responsible to justice. That’s why Crimestoppers is offering this reward. John’s family deserve answers.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 5382/12Oct, or visit the Major Incident Public Portal.

To qualify for the reward, information must be submitted directly to Crimestoppers, not to the police. Call 0800 555 111 or use the anonymous online form on the Crimestoppers website. No personal details are ever requested, and calls are not recorded.