Detectives appeal for information on 1979 unsolved murder

South Wales Police is appealing for information about the unsolved murder of taxi driver John ‘Jack’ Armstrong more than 40 years ago.

Mr Armstrong was found murdered near Bridgend in October 1979 after he collected a customer from Cardiff in his taxi.

His death has been regularly reviewed by the South Wales Police Specialist Crime Review Unit and detectives are currently investigating his death.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Davies said:

“We have been working on reviewing this unsolved murder for several years and the case has been the subject of media coverage and featured in a TV documentary series.

“Tragically, his daughter Jean, who featured in the TV documentary and expressed her hope that the killer would be found, passed away recently before she was able to see justice for her dad.”

On October 5, 1979, Jack, as he was known by family and friends, radioed in to confirm he’d collected the fare from a Fairwater pub, but was not heard from again.

His blood-stained taxi was found later that evening in Treoes Lane, Treoes, near to the Waterton Industrial Estate in Bridgend.

But it wasn’t until three days later that his body was found some 11 miles away on Cowbridge Common. Mr Armstrong had sustained catastrophic head injuries.

Despite extensive enquiries at the time, which saw hundreds of statements taken and exhibits examined, Mr Armstrong’s killer has never been found.

As part of the review, exhibits have been re-examined and witnesses have been spoken to in the hope that detectives will be able to identify and trace the killer.

DCI Davies added:

“Despite the passage of time since Mr Armstrong’s death, we remain as committed as ever to bring justice for Jack and his family.

“If the killer is still alive then they are living with the knowledge of what they did for almost 47 years. I’d appeal to anyone who believes they know the identity of the killer to do the right thing and come forward.”

Anyone with any information which could assist detectives is urged to contact the Review Unit via 101, quoting occurrence 2000304349 or by using the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) linked here.