Hamilton police say the release of a composite drawing of the suspect in the murder of a Mountain man is generating several new leads in the five-year-old case.

John Daly died 10 days after being stabbed in the head after confronting two thieves who were breaking into a car near his East 34th Street home the early morning of March 22, 2003.

Detective Sergeant Mike Thomas said police have received the names of more than 20 possible suspects since the release of the composite drawing last week.

He said he believes the murderer lived in the area and belonged to a violent street gang known as the Little Devils that was linked to street robberies, home invasions and marijuana grow operations.

"We're investigating those leads right now," Det. Thomas said.

"A lot of the people that called in have also supplied even the friends of those (suspects). That's actually very significant for us as well."

News of the fresh leads came as members of the Hamilton and Halton police ground search and rescue teams once again combed a 75-metre swath of the escarpment face near Upper Gage Avenue.

A search a few weeks ago uncovered a stolen CB radio that police believe was discarded by the suspects shortly after the murder.

During Tuesday's search, police were hoping to recover the murder weapon, believed to be a flat-headed screwdriver or similar-style burglary tool.

"He was stabbed with some kind of flat-edged weapon and they were breaking into cars, and I think there's a very good possibility it could be a screwdriver," Det. Thomas said.

"It's always a possibility that you could get some type of forensic evidence off of it. You've got to try."

Police spokesperson Sgt. Terri-Lynn Collings said results of the search weren't available at deadline.

But prior to the search, Staff Sergeant Mark Cox acknowledged time and erosion made finding the weapon "a huge challenge."

Officers used a combination of metal detectors and golf irons to comb a section of the escarpment below the Sherman Cut.

"It's a small item in a big search area with a lot of environmental challenges," Sgt. Cox said.

"Erosion in this area stacks up at the bottom every winter. I know city roads crew do maintenance down there and pick up debris at the base of the escarpment.

"Obviously, anything that's thrown in the area is going to get buried in time from all these bits of shale and other organic matter that fall down the side of the mountain."

The murder suspect is described as a white male, six feet one inches tall and 220 pounds, with short dark hair. He would now be about 25 years old. At the time of the murder, he was wearing a dark baseball cap with a logo on the front that may have been a Nike swish.

His accomplice is described as a white male, five feet six inches tall and 170 pounds, with short hair. He would also now be about 25.

Police are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Anyone with information is urged to call 905-546-4921 or Crime Stoppers at 905-522-8477.