Thursday, July 14, 2011

TV murder appeal prompts 40 calls

13 July 2011 Last updated at 09:13 GMT Elaine Doyle Elaine's body was found less than 50 yards from her home Police investigating the murder of a teenage girl 25 years ago say they have had a "very encouraging" response to a TV appeal for information.

Elaine Doyle was killed in Greenock on 1 June 1986. Her body was found the next day in a lane yards from her home.

The 16-year-old had been strangled and sexually assaulted.

Police said a reconstruction of her last movements, broadcast on the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Tuesday night, had generated more than 40 calls.

Elaine was killed on her way home from a disco. Her partially clothed body was found in a lane off Ardgowan Street, less than 50 yards from her home.

Speaking on the programme, Det Con Willie Brandon, from Strathclyde Police, said: "Several new names for the inquiry and one new name has come up on more than one occasion."

The officer also said earlier that Elaine was strangled with some sort of ligature, which has not been found.

"We know that Elaine bravely fought back, but, quite frankly, she never stood a chance," he added.

Elaine's handbag was also taken on the night she was killed.

Mr Brandon continued: "One week after the murder the handbag turned up on the steps of a local library in broad daylight on fire. We believe this was some bizarre attempt to taunt the police.

"Crucially that tells us that the person who murdered Elaine was still in Greenock one week later."

Mr Brandon said the murderer either lived in Greenock at the time or had very good knowledge of the area.

Crimewatch reconstruction of crime scene The programme reconstruction traced Ms Doyle's last movements

He said a man had been spotted in the town acting suspiciously on the night the teenager was killed.

"I think it's also important that people understand, having this DNA evidence that we now have, we can rule people out very quickly and very easily," he said.

"So, I would urge anyone who has harboured any form of suspicion, no matter how small, that someone they know has some connection with this crime to pick up the phone and give us their name."

Scientists were able to establish a DNA profile of Elaine's killer in 2003.

He said both of Elaine's parents were now in "poor health".

"We are particularly keen to bring in the answers that they crave sooner rather than later," he added.

Father's appeal

Elaine was last seen alive by two friends in Hamilton Way after she left the disco in Laird Street.

In an interview recorded for the programme, her father Jack Doyle said: "We would like to put a face to that person, who he is, why he would need to take Elaine's life.

"It doesn't get any easier but we'll never give up hope. It's living in a nightmare."

He said she was not in the "wrong place at the wrong time" and was a happy teenager.

Elaine's friend Lynn Ryan said she had asked the teenager to stay at her house after the disco, rather than walk home, but as it was too late to call her parents she left her friends.

She said: "Somebody else knows. You can't keep a secret like that to yourself for 25 years."

The reconstruction of the teenager's last hours was filmed last month.


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