Posted on the 22nd January 2026 in PHTM News

JUSTICE QUEST CONTINUES 47 YEARS AFTER BRUTAL MURDER OF CARDIFF CABBIE JOHN ARMSTRONG

Detectives have issued a fresh plea for information in the cold case of John "Jack" Armstrong, a Cardiff taxi driver whose 1979 killing remains one of South Wales' most enduring mysteries.

Nearly half a century after the father and "family man" disappeared during a routine shift, the South Wales Police Specialist Crime Review Unit has confirmed the case is still an active investigation.

On October 5, 1979, Jack radioed his base to confirm he had collected a fare from a pub in Fairwater. He was never heard from again.

While his blood-stained taxi was discovered later that night in Bridgend, his body was not found until three days later on Cowbridge Common. He had sustained catastrophic head injuries.

The renewed appeal comes at a poignant time for the family. Detective Chief Inspector Matt Davies noted the recent passing of Jack’s daughter, Jean, who had spent years campaigning for answers.

"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," DCI Davies said.

Despite the original investigation being one of the largest of its era, involving hundreds of statements and forensic exhibits, the trail went cold. However, modern detectives are now utilising advanced techniques to re-examine evidence and speak with witnesses in hopes of a breakthrough.

"We have been working on reviewing this unsolved murder for several years," 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."

Police are focusing their efforts on the possibility that the killer, or those with knowledge of the crime, may still be alive and harbour a long-held secret.

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


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