A JUDGE adjourned the Elaine Doyle murder trial after a convicted killer threatened to start a fight when he was questioned by a QC .

Brian Buckley, 45, who is serving life for the murder of a 25-year-old woman in Wrexham, north Wales, used a four-letter word as he verbally abused defence lawyer Donald Findlay during cross-examination.

Buckley had been brought to the High Court in Edinburgh to give evidence at the trial of John Docherty, who is accused of murdering 16-year-old Elaine in Greenock in 1986.

Buckley, who was convicted of throttling his girlfriend Leah Ingram in 2010, has been named as one of 41 possible suspects for the Doyle murder.

In court yesterday, he made a series of "No comment" responses to Mr Findlay, Mr Docherty's QC, when asked whether he strangled and killed Ms Ingram.

Mr Findlay asked: "Why are you not prepared to tell the jury what kind of man you are?"

Buckley said he would not comment because he is planning an appeal.

Stepping down from the witness box, Buckley retorted: "You can go f*** yourself, I am done."

Then as security officials blocked the court exit, Mr Buckley added: "Do you want me to start fighting?"

Judge Lord Stewart adjourned the trial until today when Mr Buckley could face further questioning.

Elaine's body was found yards from her home in Ardgowan Street early on June 2, 1986.

The court had previously been told that on that night Buckley and a friend, Robert Brown, had been looking for houses to break into in the area.

Mr Docherty, 49, of Dunoon, denies murder.