Trial prospect over 1980 murder

Elizabeth McCabe's body was found in woods near Dundee

A man accused of a murder more than two decades ago could be facing trial later in the year.

Vincent Simpson, of Camberley, Surrey, faces a charge of strangling Elizabeth McCabe, whose body was found in Templeton Woods, Dundee, in 1980.

The 60-year-old was excused attendance from a brief procedural hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Simpson's defence team have been sifting through material amounting to some 3,500 documents, the court heard.

Defence advocate Ashley Edwards told Judge Lord Brailsford that "considerable works" remained to be done and a further hearing was fixed for three months time.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice, prosecuting, said it was hoped a trial date could be fixed at that hearing.

The charge against Simpson alleges that in February 1980 in Union Street, the woods and elsewhere in Dundee he assaulted Ms McCabe, 20, hit her on the head and compressed her neck, murdering her.

Simpson faces two other charges of breach of the peace, alleging that he approached women in Dundee at about the same time, causing them distress and alarm.