Deli boss, 31, in dock over murder of Paige
A DELICATESSEN owner appeared in court yesterday, accused of murdering 15-year-old schoolgirl Paige Doherty.
John Leathem was remanded in custody following the private hearing at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.
The 31-year-old, of Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, made no plea when he appeared before Sheriff William Gallacher.
His case will be examined further and called again in court in the coming days.
There was a large police presence at and around the court yesterday, as officers on motorcycles escorted a security van carrying the accused to and from the building.
Paige’s grandfather, William Munro, shouted and swore at the vehicle as it arrived. Groups of people also gathered to watch as it departed.
Paige was reported missing by her mother Pamela Munro eight days ago after she failed to show up for her Saturday job at a hairdressing salon in Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire. She had spent the previous night at the home of a friend.
A massive search operation was launched to find the popular teenager – and her body was discovered last Monday in a patch of woodland near Great Western Road.
On Thursday, Police Scotland announced that a 31-year-old man had been held in connection with her death.
The arrest came after intense activity by specialist forensics officers in the streets of Clydebank and where Paige’s body was eventually found.
Mrs Munro last week told friends on Facebook that the situation was all ‘so unbelievable’.
She said: ‘I just expect to receive a cheeky text message from her or her to be shouting at me from up in her room. It’s not right.’
In an earlier appeal for information, Mrs Munro had told how the family was ‘absolutely devastated’ at the loss of their ‘beautiful little girl’.
The mother also posted a picture of Paige alongside the Titan Crane, which was lit up in pink in the teenager’s memory, alongside the hashtag JusticeForPaige.
West Dunbartonshire Lord Provost Douglas McAllister said that illuminating the massive industrial structure was ‘a small gesture of support for everyone who knew Paige’.
He added: ‘Our community is in shock at this tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with Paige’s family and friends.’
The youngster was last week described by a local shopkeeper who knew her and her family as ‘a very bubbly lassie who had time for everyone and was always smiling’.
Two fundraising web pages set up to help Paige’s family had, by 2pm yesterday, raised more than £23,000.
One states the money will be used to help Mrs Munro and her husband Andy – Paige’s stepfather – with funeral arrangements and ‘anything else to ease the pain’. The other tells contributors the funds will go to the family to ‘spend how they see fit to remember Paige’.
Local business owners such as florists, taxi firms and car hire companies have pledged to donate their services for the schoolgirl’s funeral. Celtic rock ensemble the Red Hot Chilli Pipers have contacted her family, offering to play.
Hundreds of local people were expected to gather at Whitecrook Park in Clydebank last night to take part in a memorial service for Paige.
While they were invited to bring candles to light in her honour, Police Scotland warned against the release of Chinese lanterns as they can be a danger to aircraft and the park is under the flight path of Glasgow Airport.
‘Our community is in shock at this tragedy’