Murder of Norman Moffat (Crimewatch UK Appeal)
25 Apr 2006
Police have renewed their appeal for information in relation to the murder of Mr Norman Moffat in January 2001.
At about 6.30am on 26 January 2001, 73-year-old Norman Moffat went out to buy a newspaper. Twenty minutes later, he stumbled back into his house clutching his side. He'd been stabbed.
He was rushed into hospital but never recovered. Several weeks later, he died.
Police believe that he was killed in a case of mistaken identity and that the intended victim was a local paedophile who lived in the area at the time.
There were a number of potential witnesses picked up on CCTV cameras on the morning of the attack who have never come forward.
Improved technology means that images that show Norman being stabbed are becoming clearer and police hope to identify the murderer soon.
Appeal points
- Were you one of the people on CCTV on or near Railway Road / Circular Road in the early hours of 26 January 2001?
- Who was the female witness who was seen on Circular Road around the time of the attack? She's described as 21 to 22 years old, with long brown hair, wearing a speckled brown and white hat, a three-quarter length coat and black trousers.
- Do you know anything about the attack or those that carried it out?
- Do you know the two men who were seen arguing in Circular Road, a short distance from the stabbing, one of whom was wearing a distinctive looped earring?
The public are urged to contact Police at the incident Room on 028 7028 0980 or 0845 600 8000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Detectives Re-Visit Murder of Mr Norman Moffatt, Coleraine 12/12/05
Police investigating the murder of seventy three years old Mr Norman Moffatt in January 2001 returned to the scene of the crime in Coleraine on Friday December 9, for further searches, and interviews with potential witnesses living in the area.
A mobile police station was brought into the Railway Road area of the town to facilitate residents or passers by who could offer any new information to police, and detectives conducted house-to-house enquiries and put up new appeal posters.
A review of the case by the Serious Crime Review team has identified several new lines of enquiry and a new Senior Investigating officer has been appointed to the enquiry.
Speaking about the murder, Detective Chief Inspector Nigel Kyle said:
'Mr Moffatt was a man with no enemies, he meant no harm to anyone and lived a quiet life here in the town and yet in the early hours of 26 January 2001 he left his wife and daughter sleeping and went to get the morning paper at a nearby shop, which he did every day. This is the only time that Mr Moffatt left the house each day.
"On his way home from collecting the paper at around 6.50am he was stabbed by a man with dark hair wearing dark clothing, who from CCTV footage detectives have previously released, looked like he bumped into Mr Moffatt. In fact he stabbed him and Mr Moffatt died from his injuries in hospital several weeks later.
"This crime was a reckless and impulsive act. I don't believe the killer left his home planning events to turn out this way. He returned home and I have no doubt reflected on what he had done. He will have spoken to someone, a friend or partner. Someone may remember a person behaving strangely on that morning or in the days that followed. They may also remember someone changing their routine.
"Only one person was directly involved in the act of stabbing Norman Moffatt, but if anyone knows anything about the killing of this innocent elderly gentleman and does not come forward to police, then that person has blood on their hands and a dark stain on their conscience. Norman Moffatt's wife and daughter face another Christmas without their husband and father.
"People must consider the value of having someone who could commit such a random and senseless act of violence free in society. They should ask themselves, what is the value of having someone like that in the community in Coleraine?
"We have made progress on this investigation, and with the passage of time, technology and other aspects helpful to investigators has advanced in the last four years and we are building on that. We need the full support of the community to obtain the evidence, which would put the person who stabbed Norman Moffat before the Courts.”
Anyone who has any information regarding the murder of Mr. Moffatt is asked to contact the enquiry team on 028 7028 0980, or 0845 600 8000, or ‘Crimestoppers’ on freephone 0800 555111.
View the poster appealing for information about the murder of Norman Moffatt (JPEG Image, 253.2 KB)
