31/03/2014 Reporting Scotland

That's all from the BBC News at Six - on BBC One we now

Tonight, on Reporting Scotland: The Elaine Doyle murder trial.

A retired policeman tells a court how the Greenock teenager's body was

found in a lane near her home. Who'll be carrying the baton around

the country for the Commonwealth Games? Some people found out this

morning, but others were sent blank emails.

We could see it was from the Commonwealth 2014 team. I went to

open it, but all it said was dear Natasha Allen, and then blank.

We'll be finding out what went wrong. And we're live in the

Caribbean, as the baton journeys around the globe.

Also on the programme: Top of the morning to you!

Hitting the slopes. How some of Scotland's ski resorts are

celebrating the best snow cover they've had in years.

And, a warning to Hearts that a deal must be done in the next few weeks,

to get them out of administration. Good evening.

A retired police officer has told a murder trial of the moment, 28 years

ago, when he was led to the body of a Greenock schoolgirl. Teenager

Elaine Doyle was found in a lane near her home. 49-year-old John

Docherty denies murder. Catriona Renton was in court.

On the 2nd of June 1986, Alan Stewart, now retired, was a police

officer on duty in Greenock. He told the court he got a call at 7:40am, a

body had been found. He drove to a lane near to Elaine's family home.

He was led to the girl's body. He was asked in court, what did you

see? Mr Stuart replied, I saw the naked body of a female lying on her

side, with clothes nearby. The jury were warned they would be shown

photos and video footage showing the scene and the body. A blue leather

jacket, a black and white floral dress and two black shoes were

strewn around the scene. Police constable Stuart was first on the

scene, it was his job to secure it. He did say someone could have

entered without him singing. John Docherty is accused of murdering

Elaine. Donald Findlay QC said policing practices were very

different then. Police constable William Kennedy

arrived at the scene shortly after. He said he was worried that

neighbours could see the body. He asked the officer in charge if he

could cover her with a blanket. The court heard the camp -- it could

have contaminated evidence on the body. John Docherty denies removing

or forcing Elaine to remove her clothing, strangling her, and

murdering her. He has lodged to special defences. He has submitted a

list of 41 names. He said one of these people could have been the

killer. The trial continues. Thousands of people have been

finding out if they've succeeded in becoming community baton bearers, in

the lead up to the Commonwealth Games. But organisers are having to

deal with a technical problem that's left many people receiving blank

emails. Our Commonwealth Games reporter, Lisa Summers, reports.

The good news is Robert Miller has been selected to carry the

Commonwealth baton. Well done. At Dunoon Grammer, Robert is

congratulated by his classmates. I am overwhelmed that I will be doing

this because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The

baton bearers were selected because of the contribution they make to

their communities. E-mail was used to notify people but many received

only a blank e-mail leaving them none the wiser. Richard nominate --

racial nominated her daughter. I got quite excited when I saw it, I could

see it was from the Commonwealth 2014 team. I went to open it, all it

said was, dear Natasha Alan Hummer and then, blank! Glasgow 2014 say

they are trying to assess the scale of the problem. On the other side of

the country, better news, teacher Alan Stewart was nominated by his

family. He is looking forward to his 200m in the limelight. 200m is a

long wait if you are carrying a baton. Long enough to shine for the

Commonwealth Games. The baton has been warmly received on its world

tour. I have seen one picture, 100 kids cramming around trying to get a

finger to the baton. Everywhere it goes, it will get the same reaction.

The baton bearers will capture the end-users of the Commonwealth Games

when it returns home -- capture the enthusiasm.

Well, the baton itself is on the Caribbean island of Anguilla, and

our reporter Mark Beaumont is with it.

I can see in the background, you are still slumming it! You are in

Angella -- Anguilla. Tell us more. This baton has had an exciting

journey, it has been through Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and through the

Americas. Making its way back through Europe. A lot of people in

Scotland finding out whether they will be baton bearers. Danny Laud is

one of the national cyclists heading to Glasgow this summer. What has it

been like having the baton here? It is a privilege. To get the kids

involved, to understand the spirit of the Commonwealth Games. It is an

honour for me to have the baton in my hands. How about your team, what

will it be like, going from the sunny Caribbean, going to Glasgow?

The competition is quite stiff but I think the weather will be the

biggest challenge for us, coming from this hot climate, trying to

adapt. We will do what we have got to do. Danny has been to two, web

games before. He will be using that experience to his advantage. We head

up through Jamaica, eating some of the sprinters, track athletes,

before making our way to Europe -- meeting some of the sprinters.

You're watching Reporting Scotland from the BBC. Still to come on

tonight's programme: Every picture tells a story.

A look at the work of the photographer who charted the

transformation of Glasgow. In sport, the threat of liquidation

hangs heavy over Hearts tonight, with warnings a deal must be done

soon. But matters on the field are better, as they avoid the drop, with

a 2-0 win over Hibs in the Edinburgh derby. All that, and much more,

coming soon. A former rapper has been fined ?600,

for assaulting a security guard who was on his way home from a shift in

Aberdeen. Ashley Walters, a member of the group So Solid Crew, had

earlier been handcuffed by the security guard, following an

incident in a restaurant. Kevin Keane reports.

It was with the song, 21 seconds, that So Solid Crew came to

prominence, their biggest hit back in 2001. Asher D, seen here, was one

of ten band members who performed on this song. Today, he appeared at

Aberdeen Sheriff Court under his real name. Ashley Walters had been

in the city for a nightclub appearance last September when he

and Karan Singh had gone to a city centre restaurant in the early

hours. The pair had been involved in an incident at the McDonald's

restaurant in union Street at 2am. They had been handcuffed by the

security guard. The police arrived and viewed CCTV, then released them.

When the security guard left at 3am, the pair followed him along

union Street. The security guard, Barry Anderson, was confronted by

this pair here on Bridge Street. He was dragged to the ground and

kicked. Mr Anderson had already made a concerned call to CCTV control who

had watched the attack unfold. Just five months before the assault,

Walters had appeared in this episode of the BBC drama Doctor Who. Today,

Sheriff Graeme Napier told him his case was serious because the pair

had sought vengeance for what happened earlier.

A fatal accident inquiry into the death of a foster carer, who was

killed by the 13-year-old boy she was looking after, is to start later

this year. The boy stabbed 34-year-old Dawn McKenzie ten times,

at a flat in Hamilton, in June 2011, after he had been grounded. He was

detained for seven years, after admitting culpable homicide on the

grounds of diminished responsibility. The Crown Office

said the inquiry would hold a preliminary hearing in April, and

gets under way in September. A look at other stories from the

across the country. A woman has died, after a

two-vehicle crash in the Bearsden area of East Dunbartonshire. The

incident happened at a busy junction during the morning's rush-hour. The

police are appealing for witnesses. An ASBO-style notice has been served

on the operators of a north-east wind farm, after claims that the

turbines are too noisy. But the managers of the site at Stuartfield

are appealing against Aberdeenshire Council.

The biggest ferry serving the Western Isles has again been put out

of action. A technical fault meant the Stornoway-Ullapool ferry

couldn't sail yesterday, and won't be back in service before Tuesday.

In the meantime, passengers face a significant detour via Skye and

Harris, to get to and from Stornoway.

A new replacement ferry is due to start operating on the route in

September. A five-figure sum of money has been

stolen, in an armed robbery at an Inverness betting shop. Police said

the man was thought to have had a handgun when he robbed a member of

staff at Paddy Power in Queensgate on Sunday.

Human remains found in north east Fife have been confirmed by police

as those of university librarian Susan Reid. The 56-year-old was

reported missing from Newport on Tay in January. Her body was found in a

rural location, close to St Michaels, last Tuesday.

The installation of average speed cameras on the A9 begins this week.

The first phase of the programme, to improve safety on the road, is

focusing on the section between Inverness and Perth. The cameras are

expected to be in operation by October.

Keepers at Edinburgh Zoo have begun a daily monitoring of the giant

panda couple, as mating season approaches. The zoo says the pandas

are starting to show tell-tale signs that they're ready to breed. It's

hoped the pair will produce a cub, after their high-profile failure

last year. The Belladrum Festival, near Beauly

in the Highlands, has sold out in record time. The festival is taking

place in August, and this is the sixth year running tickets have sold

out. Tom Jones and Razorlight are headlining.

Some of Scotland's major ski resorts are celebrating the best snow cover

they've enjoyed for years. And heavy snowfalls in the mountains mean

skiers could be enjoying the conditions for many weeks more.

Here's Craig Anderson with the first of two special reports.

Top of the morning to you! Delighted skiers enjoying unprecedented ski

cover at the Nevis resort. While many areas of the country were

baloney persistent rain, appear in the hills it fell as snow. It is

still many deep gash meters deep under foot. For this year as a

whole, we would say this is a record year in our 25 years, we have had

more snow this year than any other year. We have got four metres of

snow, if not more. It is an amazing cover for this time of year. One of

the key features of the weather so far this season has been not just

the levels of snow, but also the high winds which have filled in the

goalies, making it ideal for skiing, but it has also given the operator

is a real headache, they have had to dig out the tracks of the

chairlifts. With sometimes the level being as high as the towers

themselves. The high winds have regularly closed down the ski areas

but when they have been able to open it has been a bumper season. At

Cairngorm they had to draft in a digger to the summit to clear away

mountains of snow for stop last year was a very good season, three out of

four very good seasons, the jury is still out how this will pan out but

with the amount of snow we have still got and our expectation to go

on skiing through April, we think it will end up being a good season. Our

message is if you want to keep skiing, get up here and show us you

want to be here because we would expect to be here until about the

27th of April. For a number of years the lack of

decent snow cover had some people writing of Scotland's ski industry

altogether. These levels of snowball of -- snuffle part of a trend

operators and customers hope will continue -- snowfall are part of a

trend. But as we know the mountains are not

without their dangers, and tomorrow Craig will be looking at those big

snowfalls have led to an increasing number of avalanches.

He was the last great Scottish photographer of the pre-digital age

whose pictures captured ordinary folks in their day to day lives.

From the early 1960s until his death in 1988, Oscar Marzaroli catalogued

the transformation of Glasgow. In a documentary to be shown tomorrow

night, his family say the full extent of his archive is still being

revealed. Suzanne Allan explains. Oscar Marzaroli was born in Italy

but grew up in Scotland. For over 30 years he travelled the length and

breadth of the country, documenting the end of the old ways of life and

the beginning of the new. In the early 1960s slum clearance had

started, and Glasgow was changing. It inspired some of his most famous

work. His family say his skill was to be unobtrusive. He could engage

with people, he had that knack, even though he was dressed in hats and

stood out, he could still merge with people and become one of the group,

if you like. People weren't even aware of him. He was recognised by

others as well. Describing him as Glasgow's photographer in residence

is completely apt, he understood the city, he had that insider, outside

grasp, and that is the ideal perspective for a documentary of a

city. This, one of his best-known works, was not one day on the

streets of Castlemilk. People have said to me, you looked we ned in

that photo, I think that is why people thought we were in a gang. We

were just schoolkids who got our photograph taken. He just wanted the

facial expressions. His daughter has a vast election of negatives. People

understand his work, all sorts of different kinds of people, not just

from the art world, we have about 50,000 negatives, we have only seen

probably about 3000 at the very most at any given time, out of all that

big collection. His family say there is a lot more to see if they want

his name and legacy to live on. And you can see more on that in

"Oscar Marzaroli: Man with a camera" tomorrow night on BBC Two Scotland

at ten o'clock. Now to the sports news.

Hearts managed to fend off the almost inevitable drop out of the

Premiership with their 2-0 win over Hibs, but the club has been warned

it may not be able to fend off liquidation for very much longer. A

deal must be done to get them out of administration in the next few

weeks. Brian McLauchlin has more. Gary Locke celebrates with his dad

after a win against their city rivals. But a bigger battle awaits

with liquidation now a real prospect, and concern for those

trying to save the club. We are all worried, we want to get this over

the line. It has been going on too long, there have been too many

delays, not enough information coming out of Lithuania, the

formation is incomplete. Hopefully by the 7th of April all these

meetings will have taken place, the conclusion will be positive and we

can move forward for the future. Meeting in Lithuania is crucial for

their survival, however yesterday here at Tynecastle was a day the

Arts fans will remember for a long time. The youngsters were to rise to

the occasion, this opener early in the first half, before Billy King

rounded off the win with a goal in the final minute. The former hearts

player and captain said the performance was one of the best of

the season. When you take into account everything riding on the

game yesterday, with the possibility of getting relegated off your

biggest rivals, to come up with a performance and result like that, it

ranks up there with the biggest and best of the season. He also believes

if Hearts to go bust the fans will rally to make sure the name

continues. If it goes down the liquidation route, the supporters

would undoubtedly rally round, the club would start again. The battle

was won at Tynecastle on Sunday, but a war in Lithuania to save the club

is looming. The former Hearts and Scotland goal keeper Craig Gordon

has been talking to several clubs north of the border about a return

to action. He's been out of the game since 2012 when he was released by

Sunderland after a string of injuries. Gordon has 40 caps for

Scotland and says he is determined to get back to playing at

international level once again. Once you get back playing football

and you get the hunger again, you want to get to the highest level

possible. For me I thoroughly enjoy playing for Scotland, the times I

have enjoyed most in my career, to get back to doing that and trying to

reclaim the number one jersey, that would be my aim.

Now, a look at some of the other stories today across Scottish sport.

It has been confirmed Stephen Gallacher will play in the US

Masters which begins next week. The world 's top 50 qualifier Gallagher

says playing the famous Augusta course is a lifetime ambition. It is

probably the tournament I have wanted to play, all my days I have

watched the great swimmer. As a kid you were allowed to stay up late

watching it on the telly. -- watching all the greats winner

there. Image and 91 the mixed doubles and

the women's doubles titles at the French open, she prepares for next

month 's European champions in Russia.

There was a silver medal for Daniel purpose in the all-around at the

British Championships while Dan Keating 's took the bronze. The

competition is getting hot as the Scottish and English band ahead of

2014. The closer it gets, the more serious it will get, it is looking

good. Interesting to see what the teams will be, it will be a tough

competition. Gareth Murray was the top scorer for

Glasgow rocks with 21 points. Despite leading at half-time they

were narrowly beaten, 83-76 by Worcester Wolves.

There are more sports stories plus the latest news on the website.

Now, just before I go, thoughts of Glasgow 2014 very much on our minds,

after that it's the Australian Gold Coast in 2018, but there had been

fears of not finding a Commonwealth Games host city beyond that. This

However in the last hour or so two cities have come forward. So

Scotland athletes of 2022, you will be heading to either Durban in South

Africa, or Edmonton in Canada. Do you think we can make a comeback for

that? His off-the-wall-humour, and surreal

songs and poems inspired everyone from Billy Connolly to the Beatles.

Now Glasgow born performer Ivor Cutler is the inspiration for a new

show from the National Theatre of Scotland. Our arts correspondent

Pauline McLean reports. His surreal songs appealed to all

ages. In a career which spanned six decades. But behind the silliness of

Ivor Cutler, there was a performer who influenced everyone from Billy

Connelly to the Beatles. If he was Russian, Polish, he would be taken a

little bit more seriously as an artist, a straightforward artist.

But over here, because of his silly hats and his life manifesto and the

way he lived his life, everybody thought he was bonkers and off the

wall. He has got a lot of depth, a lot of darkness. He claimed his

miserable childhood in Glasgow in the 1920s made him more creative. It

certainly fuelled his comedy. Our net guest has been making radio and

TV audiences feel uneasy. Decade after decade he was rediscovered and

championed by each new generation. You get the pedal going. Nine years

after his death these performers are keen to continue the tradition and

they have a personal connection as well. This harmonium, abandoned by

him in a Scottish theatre. The technician had overheard Ivor Cutler

talking to what he thought was a person, telling them he had warned

them before if they carried on like this he would leave them behind.

Sure enough, he would leave them behind this time. And what it turned

out to be was this harmonium. It was left at the Pavilion Theatre. This

time around it will not be left behind as the show begins its tour

in Inverness later this week. This Now before the weather a note to

viewers who'd like to take part in a debate about the Scottish

independence referendum. BBC Scotland has been hosting a

series of TV debates and the next will be in Kirkwall on Tuesday, 15th

April. If you want to join the audience you can find the details on

the BBC Scotland news website. Is the first Reporting Scotland ends

in daylight, so does the weather have a springtime feel?

Good evening. Quite a contrast across the country. For some areas

beautiful sunshine and 17 Celsius for sky, but we held on to the

mistiness, through the central lowlands, with only six degrees

here. As we head into the evening, Cloud thickens up through the

southern half of the country. Outbreaks of rain pushing in across

the South, seeing some showery rain across the south-west. That will

continue to journey northwards. Fairly misty, murky conditions, was

again along the East Coast, dry with some clear spells. Tomorrow starts

off on a cloudy know, our bricks of rain first thing, it may become

persistent through the rush-hour -- outbreaks of rain. As the weather

front moves northwards it dies away. On the whole, for southern Scotland

and improving day. We should cease and brightness come the afternoon

for the inner Hebrides, the south-west. More in the way of cloud

towards the eastern borders, bits and pieces of rain for Glasgow. This

towards the Tayside area as well. Always hold up on the east coast. --

colder. Towards the north-west to 15 degrees. Across the Northern Ireland

's we will see some brighter skies -- Northern Isles. This dry during

the evening and overnight. We will see fairly misty, murky conditions

returning across eastern Scotland. We keep the easterly air flow on

Wednesday, keeping the same conditions. This weather front

introducing some rain come Wednesday night. A rather dull, damp feel. In

the West will be sunnier, brighter. Not too bad.

Thanks. Now, a reminder of tonight's main

news. A retired police officer has told a

murder trial of the moment 28 years ago when he was led to the body of a

Greenock schoolgirl. Teenager Elaine Doyle was found in a

lane near her home. 49-year-old John Docherty denies murder.

The impacts of climate change are likely to be "severe, pervasive and

irreversible" - that's the stark warning in a major report by the

United Nations. The report suggests rising global temperatures are

likely to cause a higher risk of flooding, more extreme weather like

heat waves as well as changes to crop yields causing food shortages.

And that's Reporting Scotland. I'll be back with the headlines at 8pm,

and the late bulletin just after the ten o'clock news. Until then, from

everyone on the team right across the country, have a very good

evening.