The relative of an Oxford man fatally shot in his Oxford home is seeking answers to the unsolved killing as the 30th anniversary approaches. 

Gordon Smart, who lives in Glasgow, has self-published a novel called Deception in the hopes of bringing light to the unsolved murder of Dr Michael Meenghan.

Mr Smart said: "I hope that in this anniversary year, my book may be a reminder of this tragic killing."

On December 10, 1994, Dr Meenaghan was shot dead in his Oxford home on the Blackbird Leys estate.

Dr Meenaghan was a lecturer at Oxford University’s Sir William Dunn School of Pathology when he was killed.

There was no known motive for the shooting and his killer has never been identified.

A £20k reward was previously offered by police to anyone with information.

There has previously been speculation that it could have been a case of mistaken identity or a hired hitman, but it remains an unsolved murder to this day.

The Thames Valley Police Major Crime Review Team, which investigates cold cases relating to homicides and sexual offences, continues to investigate the murder of Dr Meenaghan.

READ MORE: Oxford swimming coaches win unfair dismissal tribunalDr Michael MeenaghanDr Meenaghan grew up in Stirling, Scotland, and was Mr Smart's second cousin.

Mr Smart grew up in Glasgow but often visited his relatives in Stirling, including Dr Meenaghan, who was around five years younger than him.

"Toys that I had outgrown were passed on to Michael and I remember his dad, Tony, fondly as he would come through to Glasgow and take me to the cinema and football matches," recalled Mr Smart.

"As I grew older and moved away from home I lost touch with my Stirling relatives, but was deeply shocked when I heard about Michael’s violent death."

Gordon Smart holding his new book, DeceptionGordon Smart holding his new book, Deception (Image: Gordon Smart) A retired teacher and education adviser, Mr Smart now writes crime books, including a trilogy set in Glasgow which was published by Red Dragon Publishing.

Mr Smart said the mystery surrounding Michael’s death "intrigued" him. 

"I spoke to Michael’s first cousin, Tony Meenaghan, who told me what he knew and shared a link to a podcast about the case," he said. 

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"Michael was a brilliant forensic scientist who lectured at Oxford University and it didn’t seem to make any sense why he was so brutally murdered.

"His mother, Pat, never got over the loss and died a few years ago without knowing why her son died.

"It acted as an inspiration for my next novel and I decided that I would include a similar shooting as a key incident in the plot."

Gordon Smart's new book, DeceptionGordon Smart's new book, Deception (Image: Gordon Smart) The book starts with a description of a character being shot through his kitchen window, just as Dr Meeneghan was, and at the end of the book in an author’s note Mr Smart has referenced it as being based on Dr Meeneghan murder.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: "We would appeal to anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant they think it might be, to contact the force.

"You can do this by visiting a police station, via our website -https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/ - or calling 101.

"If you have any suspicions relating to this case, please contact us so we can investigate."

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