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Elaine Doyle murder: John Docherty guilty of 1986 killing Elaine Doyle murder: John Docherty guilty of 1986 killing
(35 minutes later)
A former soldier has been convicted of murdering 16-year-old Elaine Doyle in Greenock in 1986.A former soldier has been convicted of murdering 16-year-old Elaine Doyle in Greenock in 1986.
John Docherty, 49, from Dunoon, had denied strangling the teenager whose naked body was found yards from her home in the Inverclyde town.John Docherty, 49, from Dunoon, had denied strangling the teenager whose naked body was found yards from her home in the Inverclyde town.
During the trial, the High Court in Edinburgh heard how Docherty's DNA was found on Elaine's body.During the trial, the High Court in Edinburgh heard how Docherty's DNA was found on Elaine's body.
He claimed someone among 41 other names on police files was responsible but he was convicted by a majority verdict.He claimed someone among 41 other names on police files was responsible but he was convicted by a majority verdict.
Speaking after the verdict, the Doyle family said "the pain doesn't go away" but that they took comfort that they now "have justice for Elaine".
The trial, which heard 50 days of evidence, was told how Elaine had attended a disco at Greenock Celtic Club in the town's Laird Street before she died.
'See you tomorrow'
She left with best friend, Lynn McCurdy, now 44, who told the trial how they walked together to a hamburger stall in Greenock town centre.
Around midnight they went their separate ways, with Elaine beginning to walk home - turning down the offer of a lift with another friend's brother.
Mrs McCurdy said her last words to Elaine were: "OK I will see you tomorrow."
The court heard how the naked body of the teenager was found in a lane just yards from her home in Ardgowan Street on 2 June 1986. She had been strangled.
Forensic scientist Pauline McSorley told the trial that she had tested DNA that was found on Elaine's body and clothing.
She said tiny traces matched the DNA of police, forensic scientists, and a member of the laboratory staff.
But two results could not be accounted for until Mr Docherty volunteered a sample of his DNA in May 2012 and gave another sample on March last year, when he was arrested and charged with the murder.
The trial heard that the DNA on Elaine's back was an exact match. DNA on the girl's face also matched Docherty's profile.
Mrs McSorley said it was 560,000 times more likely it came from the accused than any other unrelated male.
Docherty's defence QC Donald Findlay called witnesses from among 41 other names on police files and attempted to show how someone else could have been responsible.
He also branded the police investigation "a shambles" and said officers had not told the truth and had contaminated the crime scene, meaning the DNA evidence was not reliable.
The eight women and seven men of the jury did not believe Docherty's defence, however, and convicted him of murder.
Judge Lord Stewart deferred sentence on Docherty until August for reports.
In a statement, the Doyle family said: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the police officers and staff who have work on Elaine's enquiry from 1986 until now.
"Particular thanks must also go to Mr Frank Mulholland, the Lord Advocate, who was kind to my late husband, Jack when he met him three years ago and who has followed the progress of the enquiry since 1986 and Mr John Scullion, for prosecuting the case at court.
"The people of Inverclyde who have lived this nightmare with us for the last 28 years and have always supported our family.
"The result at court doesn't make our day-to-day living any easier - the pain doesn't go away, but, my son John and I take comfort that we now have justice for Elaine, which is all we, especially her dad Jack, campaigned for."
The conviction of Docherty brings to a close one of Scotland's longest running unsolved murders.