THE man on trial for the murder of Elaine Docherty told police he knew nothing of the killing, apart from what he had read in newspapers.

The High Court in Edinburgh has heard how former soldier John Docherty, 49, was taken from his Greenock home in handcuffs after a dawn raid on March 22 last year.

Yesterday a jury began to watch a video recorded during a day of questioning about the 1986 murder.

Docherty, a driver with Inverclyde Council, was asked by Detective Constable William Brandon what he knew.

"Nothing, other than what I have read," replied Docherty.

Asked to give more details Docherty continued: "She was a young lassie on a night out and she didn't make it home."

Docherty told the questioning detectives that at the time Elaine was murdered, he was a 22-year-old living with his parents in Anne Street, Greenock.

After leaving school at 16, he had worked as a labourer "in the yards" for a time but had also been unemployed and taken part in govern-ment work schemes.

In 1988 Docherty began a six-year spell in the Army and had been working for the local authority for 19 years.

The trial has heard that - with breaks - the questioning began at 10.30am and continued until just before 5pm

The jury is expected to watch more of the video footage today.

Elaine's naked body was found yards from her home in Ardgowan Street with her clothes folded neatly at her feet.

Docherty, now of Dunoon, denies murder and claims that at the time he is alleged to have strangled the 16-year-old he was with his parents, who are no longer alive.

He has lodged a special defence of incrimination claiming the culprit might be among a list of 41 names taken from files of the police investig-ation into the murder.

The trial continues.