Murder trial told of dawn raid by officers

A JURY has heard how the man on trial for the murder of Elaine Doyle was first confronted wi t h the allegation.

John Docherty, 49, was led away after a dawn raid on his Greenock home, almost 27 years after Ms Doyle’s body was found.

Detective Constable Christopher Nisbet, 31, told the High Court in Edinburgh officers went to a Greenock address at 6am in March last year with a search warrant.

Advocate depute John Scullion asked the detective if Mr Docherty was informed why they were there.

Mr Nisbet replied: “Yes. He was told that through investigations he had been identified as being involved in the murder of Elaine Doyle. “He made no reply.” Docherty, now of Dunoon, denies murder and claims that at the time he is alleged to have stripped and strangled Ms Doyle, 16, he was with his parents – who are no longer alive – at their home in Anne Street. The trial continues.