Man denies Mary murder

Mr Sinclair denies the charges

A 55-year-old man has gone on trial charged with the rape and murder of a teenage girl in Glasgow more than 22 years ago.

Angus Sinclair denies killing 17-year-old Mary Gallacher in the north of the city.

The charges against Mr Sinclair allege that that he attacked the Springburn teenager on waste ground at Barnhill Railway Station on Petershill Road in November 1978.

The trial is being heard in Glasgow

It is alleged that he held a knife to her back before raping her, repeatedly stabbing her on the neck, strangling her and stealing her handbag.

Mr Sinclair, who is described as a prisoner at Peterhead Jail, has lodged a special defence, saying he may lead evidence to prove his innocence by incriminating one or more of 13 named people and six unknown men.

The trial, at the High Court in Glasgow, is expected to last up to four weeks.

Police Constable John Japp, 54, was the only witness to be called on Tuesday.

He identified some of Mary's belongings, which were found after her body was discovered on the waste ground.

'Distressing' photographs

He also identified the label on the dead girl's handbag, which he had signed during the inquiry, and pointed out the scene on a video.

PC Japp, who has been a policeman for 29 years, was aged 32 at the time.

He said that during the inquiry he was assisting "older, more experienced members of the CID".

The jury members were each handed a book of photographs, some showing the dead girl.

They were warned by the judge, Lord Carloway, that they might find some of the pictures "distressing".

The trial continues.