RENEE AND ANDREW MACRAE: The trial of William MacDowell in full
The Inverness Courier covered every single day of the trial of William MacDowell.
He denied the murder of former lover Renee Macrae (36) and her three-year-old son Andrew back in 1976.
Police charged MacDowell in September 2019 following a lengthy re-investigation of the case by a dedicated team.
He has now been convicted and will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Here readers can go back and look at the evidence heard each day by following the links.
September 12, 2022 The trial finally gets underway at the High Court in Inverness after years of delays due to various different issues.
MacDowell arrives at court in a wheel chair to face the accusations, which he denied.
September 13, 2022 A "blood curdling scream" was heard on the night of November 12, 1976, jurors are told.
Inverness woman Catherine Johnstone (68) gave evidence that she heard the noise while living at a farm near the Dalmagarry lay-by where Renee's burnt out car was found.
READ MORE:
September 14, 2022 Renee's estranged husband is one of the first to give evidence.
The court heard that MacDowell was sacked three days after the disappearance of Renee and Andrew, when their love tryst was uncovered by Mr MacRae.
READ MORE:
September 15, 2022 Renee's sister Morag Govans gives evidence saying she knew something dreadful had happened.
Morag Govans, an 84-year-old retired nurse from Inverness, said she had regularly received a weekly phone call from Mrs MacRae before her disappearance.
READ MORE:
September 16, 2022 The High Court heard evidence that MacDowell was seen scrubbing the boot of his car in the days following Renee's disappearance.
Evidence was led from a now deceased former employee of Mr MacRae.
READ MORE:
September 20, 2022 The High Court hears evidence that a Volvo was seen near Renee's car on the night she vanished with her son.
And MacDowell's wife took the stand to give evidence at the trial.
READ MORE:
RENEE AND ANDREW MACRAE: High Court in Inverness hears from wife of William MacDowell
September 21, 2022 The High Court hears MacDowell's wife was "agitated" while speaking to police.
She was also said to be "volatile" during the interview.
READ MORE:
RENEE AND ANDREW MACRAE: Murder suspect's wife gave 'very agitated and volatile' interview to police
September 22, 2022 Police statements from the time of the disappearance are read out to the court.
More than 100 officers were involved in the missing person case when it was launched in '76.
READ MORE:
RENEE AND ANDREW MACRAE: William MacDowell 'only joking' about starting new life with lover
September 23, 2022 Evidence is given from a deceased convicted criminal claiming he was asked to kill Renee.
The High Court in Inverness heard that Dennis Tyronney wrote to the fomer Northern Constabulary in May 2005 to tell them about the proposition put to him, he said, in the summer of 1976.
READ MORE:
Convicted criminal claims he was asked to kill the mother and son, the High Court at Inverness hears
September 26, 2022 The High Court is told there is "no evidence" that the missing mother and son could still be alive as Detective Constable Martin Murphy takes the stand.
Jurors were told there had been123 reported sightings of Mrs MacRae alive since November 12, 1976 but all were eliminated.
READ MORE:
September 27, 2022 The trial proceeded to closing arguments with the Crown summing up its case.
Alex Prentice KC gave a speech lasting more than an hour on why they should convict MacDowell of the double murder.
READ MORE:
September 28, 2022 The jury hears the closing argument for the defence.
Defence counsel Murray McAra KC said jurors should consider the disappearance of the mother and son should be considered a mystery not a murder.
READ MORE:
September 29, 2022 The jury delivers a guilty verdict on all three counts - sending MacDowell to prison for the rest of his life.
READ MORE:
