Age: 49 (70 after sentence)
Sex: male
Crime: murder
Date Of Sentence: 17 Jun 2014 (for 21 years)
End Of Full Sentence: 17 Jun 2035
Place: Ardgowan Street, Greenock, Inverclyde
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
John Docherty was convicted of the cold case murder of Elaine Doyle 16 who he murdered in 1986. He was convicted 28 years later in 2014. He was 21 when he killed her.
Elaine Doyle had been to a disco at the Greenock Celtic Club on Laird Street after which she went to a hamburger stall in Greenock with a friend seperating around midnight to go their seperate ways. She was later found naked in a lane off of Ardgowan Street where she lived having been strangled.
John Docherty was convicted based on DNA evidence which was said to have come from sweat or saliva droplets from John Docherty as he struggled with her. She was strangled from behind. The DNA was found earlier but could not be matched until 2012 when police took a voluntary DNA sample from John Docherty.
John Docherty said he was at home on the night of the murder at his parents home in Anne Street but his parents are now both dead. He said that the murderer was one of 41 other men that were on the police suspect list and lodged a defence of incrimination.
see Scots Courts
see Daily Record