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MONSTER'S LAIR
Cops caught Paige Doherty’s killer after CCTV showed her entering his deli and never leaving
New footage reveals murdered teen went in but didn't come back out
MURDERED teen Paige Doherty's tragic final moments have been revealed for the first time - as CCTV footage shows her entering the killer's deli on the day she died, but never leaving.
Video footage released today by the Crown Office in Scotland shows the 15-year-old schoolgirl going into John Leathem's deli in Clydebank to buy a sausage roll - but not coming out again afterwards.
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The clip emerged today after her killer admitted murdering the teen at Scotland's High Court by stabbing her 61 times in a brutal, random attack.
He's now facing life behind bars and will be sentenced later.
Paige’s body was found in a wooded area of Clydebank, near Glasgow, on March 21 this year.
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But she was last seen alive two days earlier, on March 19, going into Leathem's deli in the town, before setting off for her part-time hairdressing job.
Specialist forensic officers narrowed down their search to the Delicious Deli in Clydebank's Fleming Avenue, the premises where the teenager was last spotted after leaving a friend's house.
Paige's body was found on March 21 in a wooded area behind a path off Great Western Road, a busy route connecting Clydebank and Glasgow.
Shop owner Leathem was arrested three days later over the death - a killing which stunned the community and wider public.
Leathem's defence barrister, Ian Duguid QC, said when Paige entered the shop that day she was "just another customer".
But the shop owner knew of Paige through her mother, who had told him that her daughter was unhappy with her placement at the hairdresser's.
Mr Duguid said: "In general conversation the accused mentioned to Paige that he knew she might be unhappy at her work.
"According to him he explained that his business was looking for an assistant to work in the shop."
Paige is said to have gone with him to the back office where he took some details from her.
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Because she was a month shy of her 16th birthday, he said he told her he would have to speak to her mother, and also explained there were other candidates for the job.
Leathem claims Paige responded: "I thought I was getting a job" before adding "I'll just say you touched me", the court heard.
Mr Duguid, setting out Leathem's version of events, said he stood up suddenly and knocked the chair he was sitting on backwards to the floor.
Paige is said to have stood up suddenly herself and started screaming, and the shop owner responded by grabbing a knife from the top of a nearby cabinet and stabbing her.
He is said to have expressed "extreme sorrow and remorse" for his actions.
Today CCTV, which was used by cops to nail Leathem,was released by prosecutors.
Police Scotland Detective Superintendent Duncan Sloan said: "CCTV has been vital throughout this inquiry and officers painstakingly reviewed hours of footage which ultimately revealed that Paige walked into that shop but didn't leave.
"This, coupled with extensive forensic examinations of the crime scenes, helped to establish what happened to Paige and who was responsible. I am sure that the sheer weight of this evidence has led to the guilty plea at court today."
He added: "These type of incidents are very rare in Scotland and Paige's untimely death shocked a community to its core, particularly as the man responsible was one of them.
"The support from the local community has been much appreciated and I hope that Paige's family can take some comfort from the result of the court proceedings today.
"Paige's whole future lay ahead of her and her life has been brutally cut short by the vicious actions of one man."
Tragic Paige, who was just 4ft 8in, was on her way to work after a sleepover at her friend’s when she disappeared.
She had been killed using "sharp force" and had 43 stab wounds to her face and neck.
In total the teenager had 146 individual wounds, 85 of them minor and mostly defensive, the court heard today.
In a statement released at the time, Paige's mother Pamela Munro said: "We are absolutely devastated that we have lost our beautiful little girl.”
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Fundraising pages created to finance Paige’s funeral raised £12,000.
Following her death hundreds of mourners donned pink clothing and carried heart-shaped balloons when they took part in a memorial walk to pay tribute to her.
The landmark Titan Crane in Clydebank was lit up in pink one evening in memory of the teenager and as a gesture of support for everyone affected by the crime.
Following the girl's death, people including Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon showed the family support by posting pictures of themselves pouting with the hashtag PoutforPaige.
Paige's mother told mourners at the service to turn their anger at her death in to cherishing the memory of her ''beautiful smiling girl''.
Leathem’s family had previously backed the killer, claiming he had no involvement in the tragedy.
Shortly after her murder Leathem's wife was forced to flee the family home with her baby after vandals began attacking the house and shop.
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Katya has left the flat where she lived with him and their baby after windows were smashed and eggs thrown.
A neighbour said at the time: “The police sat outside the home 24 hours a day.
“There was a lot of anger among people here because Paige was well-known and very popular.
“Some of the youngsters were quite open about smashing the windows of the flat as soon as the police moved out, so it would have been difficult for a young mother to return here.”
Paige’s disappearance sparked intense police activity in the areas where she was last seen and where her body was eventually found.
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