A WITNESS who told police "a detailed cocktail of lies" more than 27 years ago found himself accused of murdering Elaine Doyle.

A trial has heard how Allan Cleary, 46, asked a pal to give him a false alibi, when officers investigating the teenager's death questioned clubbers in Greenock.

On trial is John Docherty, 49, who denies murder. His lawyers have drawn up a list of 41 possible suspects which, it is claimed, might include the real killer.

The body of Elaine, 16, was found just yards from her home in Ardgowan Street on the morning of June 2, 1986.

The trial heard that Mr Cleary, a shop sales assistant at the time, met Elaine when he visited a jeweller's - where she was an assistant on a YTS scheme - to buy an earring.

He later told detectives that he had seen her again in the early hours of June 2 1986 at a hamburger stall in Greenock town centre.

The claimed sighting wasn't true because, it is thought, Elaine was already dead. Mr Cleary also gave different accounts at different times of what he was wearing that night.

Defence QC Donald Findlay suggested there might be an "ulterior motive" for telling "a detailed cocktail of lies."

He asked Mr Cleary: "What kind of man does this?"

"An evil man," replied Mr Cleary.

Mr Findlay: "And what else might an evil man do if not murder?" He continued: "Do you now want to admit to the murder of Elaine?" Mr Cleary replied: "No, because I had nothing to do with it."

The trial continues.