Elaine 'ran off' from car driver

Marion King, 44, gave a statement to detectives saying Elaine had told her that a man driving a blue car had repeatedly asked her to get into his vehicle.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard yesterday that Elaine told Marion that she refused and 'ran' towards her home in Greenock, Inverclyde.

Mrs King, of Greenock, was giving evidence at the trial of John Docherty, 49, who denies murdering Elaine in the town in June 1986.

Mrs King told defence QC Donald Findlay that she gave her statement hours after Elaine's body was discovered on June 2 1986.

The court heard that in the statement, Marion told officers that she had known Elaine Doyle for two years.

Mrs King also told detectives that before she had died, Elaine had told her about an incident that happened around a month before she was allegedly murdered.

Elaine felt that she had been 'pestered' by a man driving the blue car which was possibly a 'Marina' model.

Marion told officers that Elaine said the man asked her to get into his vehicle -but she refused and continued to walk on.

The court heard that the man continued to drive on beside her. He then asked Elaine to get in for a second time but she refused and 'ran' home.

When Donald Findlay QC asked Mrs King whether she thought Elaine had made the story up, Mrs King replied: "No."

Mrs King also told detectives in her statement that Elaine thought the motorist looked 'tall' and had curly hair which had looked as if it had been permed.

Docherty, now of Hunters Quay, Holiday Village, Dunoon, denies murder and claims that at the the time he is alleged to have stripped and strangled Elaine,16, he was with his parents - who are no longer alive - at their home in Anne Street, Greenock.

Docherty has also lodged a special defence of incrimination.

It claims that the culprit might be among a list of 41 names taken from files of the police investigation into the murder.

The trial, before judge Lord Stewart, continues.