Docherty DNA match was ‘a billion to one’

Published: 3 Jun 2014 10:40

THE chances of DNA found on Elaine Doyles body not being from murder accused John Docherty are a billion to one, the High Court has heard.

Share this image

Traces of DNA matching that of 49-year-old Docherty were found on Elaines naked body, but not on her clothes.

Yesterday on the 28th anniversary of Elaines death forensic scientist Pauline McSorley told the court it was over a billion times more likely that the DNA profile she found came from Docherty rather than any other unrelated male.

She agreed that sweat or droplets of saliva deposited as a perpetrator strangled the 16-year-old girl could account for her findings.

The jury heard Mrs McSorley, 57, describe years of work carried out on samples taken from the crime scene, a lane just off Ardgowan Street.

She and her colleagues had examined tape which had been laid across Elaines body in the hope of trapping hairs or fibres which might help track down her killer.

The forensic scientists also tested the teenagers clothes for clues.

Originally posted here:
Docherty DNA match was 'a billion to one'