By Grant Smith

POLICE IN Dundee launched a murder hunt yesterday after a 51-year-old man was found in a street dying from serious head injuries.

A senior officer said the victim had been subjected to a “sustained and brutal” attack. Passers-by found him lying in Brook Street, near its junction with Edward Street, about 12.30 am. They tried to help him until paramedics arrived, but he was too badly hurt and died at the scene.

He has not yet been named, but is known to be a local man. A post mortem carried out later in the day confirmed his death was suspicious.

A major police inquiry was already under way and the road was closed while scenes of crime officers carried out a painstaking search for clues about his attacker or attackers.

An appeal was also made for several possible witnesses to come forward, including a man who telephoned the offices of The Courier in the early hours of Sunday.

Detective Chief Inspector Ewen West said, “This was a vicious and unprovoked attack upon a man who appears to have been heading home after a night out.

“He was subjected to a sustained and brutal assault which left him with injuries that ultimately proved fatal.”

He said that in addition to the forensic activity, searches were being carried out and CCTV security camera footage reviewed.

House-to-house inquiries were also being conducted in the area, which used to be predominantly commercial in nature but has seen a lot of residential development in recent years.

DCI West went on, “We know that there were people in the area around the time of this attack and we want to speak to each and every one of them. Some witnesses have come forward with valuable information.

“I would like to hear from anyone who was in or around Brook Street any time between 12.15 and 1am. That includes pedestrians, drivers and taxi drivers, as well as anyone who has stopped off to use the cash machine at the nearby Somerfield supermarket.”

In particular, detectives want to speak to three young adults, a man and two women, who were seen walking up Polepark Road from Brook Street around the time of the attack. The women were sharing an umbrella.

A man and a woman who seemed to be having a disagreement, were seen near Bissell’s bar in Polepark Road, about 11.30 pm. They may have useful information and detectives want to eliminate them from the inquiry.

Police also want to hear from the anonymous man who called The Courier about the incident around 3am. He may have had a foreign accent and spoke briefly to a doorman, saying there had been a murder.

Officers remained at the scene last night and traffic restrictions were still in place in the Brook Street area.