AMERICAN sailors on leave in Dunoon last night were interviewed by
detectives investigating the murder of Gourock mother Joyce Hepburn, two
weeks after her body was found in a burn in the town's George Street
area.
Hundreds of sailors were questioned as they entered hotels and public
houses in the town late last night and early this morning as the hunt
continued for the killer of the 25- year-old woman, of Bute Street in
Gourock.
Her body was found in the Milton Burn on July 14. Police believe she
was killed between 5.30am and 7.30 am.
The sailors were questioned because many of them come ashore on leave
every second Thursday after receiving their fortnightly pay cheques and
were likely to have been in the Dunoon area at the time of the murder.
Police believe one may have seen a woman and a man reported arguing in
George Street at about 6.20am that day.
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Hay, leading the inquiries, said:
''Circumstances suggest that the victim was the female involved in the
argument mainly because it took place above the area where her body was
found.''
Sailors were asked where they were between 5.30am and 7.30 am on July
14, whether they saw Joyce Hepburn leaving one of the bars in Dunoon,
and whether they saw a couple arguing in George Street that morning.
Detectives have already spoken to witnesses who heard an argument --
one witness told police she heard a woman scream -- but have not
contacted eye witnesses.
The body of Miss Hepburn's fiance, Ivan Miller, 28, a US Navy dental
technician, who reported her missing at 2pm on July 14, was found a week
later in the hills behind Dunoon. He had taken his own life.
Miss Hepburn's funeral is to take place in Gourock today.
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