Monday 26 September 2022 03:26 PM Pensioner, 80, denies murdering his partner and their three-year-old son trends now

Monday 26 September 2022 03:26 PM Pensioner, 80, denies murdering his partner and their three-year-old son trends now
Monday 26 September 2022 03:26 PM Pensioner, 80, denies murdering his partner and their three-year-old son trends now

Monday 26 September 2022 03:26 PM Pensioner, 80, denies murdering his partner and their three-year-old son trends now

A pensioner accused of murdering his lover and their three-year-old son more than four decades ago told his handyman he 'did and didn't' kill her, a court has been told.

William MacDowell, 80, denies murdering 36-year-old Renee MacRae and their son Andrew MacRae at a layby south of Inverness on November 12, 1976.

After the alleged murder, MacDowell and his wife, Rosemary, moved to the Crook Inn, Peeblesshire, where, in the autumn of 1986, MacDowell employed ex-convict Mitchell Yuill as a handyman, the High Court in Inverness has heard.

Speaking to police in 1987, Mr Yuill said when he first started working for MacDowell, he did not know he was connected to the disappearance until the pub chef told him.

Renee MacRae

Andrew

William MacDowell, 80, denies murdering 36-year-old Renee MacRae (left) and their son Andrew (left) at a layby south of Inverness on November 12, 1976

On the 10th anniversary of Renee and Andrew going missing, Mr Yuill was asked by MacDowell to get two copies of a newspaper, where the story featured. Yuill said MacDowell reacted as though he was not too 'chuffed' about the story reappearing.

After work, while he was playing pool with MacDowell, Mr Yuill said he spoke to him about the mystery.

'He wasn't surprised by the question but gave a big sigh or blow,' Yuill said in a police statement, which was read out to the court by former police officer, George Gough.

Mr Yuill said that on another occasion, while he was drinking with MacDowell, the subject came up again.

'I asked

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