A FORENSIC scientist has told a court how evidence recovered from the location where Elaine Doyle's body was discovered suggested she had became involved in a struggle before dying.

Keith Eynon, 68, was the head of Strathclyde Police's Forensic Support Unit when he was called to a lane off Ardgowan Street, Greenock, in June 1986.

A jury at the High Court in Edinburgh heard how a clump of hair was recovered close to where the 16-year-old's body was found on June 2 that year.

The court heard how Mr Eynon helped gather forensic evidence from where Elaine's remains were found.

Mr Eynon told prosecution lawyer John Scullion: "Certainly the clump of hair suggests a struggle."

He gave evidence for a second day at proceedings against John Docherty, 49, of Dunoon, Argyll, who denies murdering jeweller's assistant Elaine. He claims that, at the time he is alleged to have stripped and strangled her, he was at home with his parents, who are no longer alive.

Mr Docherty has also lodged a special defence of incrimination claiming the culprit might be among a list of 41 names taken from files of the police investigation into the alleged murder.

He faces a charge which alleges that, in a lane near Ardgowan Street, he seized her by the hair, struck her on the head and either removed or compelled her to remove her clothing.

The charge goes on to allege he forced Elaine to the ground, pushed her face to the ground, sat or knelt on the teenager then placed a ligature round her neck and strangled her. He also denies a charge of attacking another woman, Linda Hargie, on various occasions between 1990 and 1995 at an address in Anne Street, Greenock, by seizing her and pushing her on the head.