Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Kaitlin Easton

Man found guilty of murdering Renee MacRae and her three-year-old son 46 years ago

A man has been found guilty of murdering Renee MacRae and her three-year-old son, more than 45 years ago

William MacDowell, 80, was found guilty by a jury at the High Court in Inverness today and handed a life sentence, with a minimum of 30 years, over the horrific crimes.

He was also found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of their bodies and personal effects.

The court had heard how Renee, who was separated from her husband, had been having an affair with married MacDowell at the time she and Andrew disappeared.

MacDowell, of Penrith, Cumbria, was on trial charged with assaulting Renee and her son Andrew at the Dalmagarry layby on the A9 trunk road south of Inverness, or elsewhere, by means unknown, and as a result murdering them on November 12, 1976.

Renee MacRae missing person who disappeared in November 1976 with son Andrew age 3 (Daily Record)

He was also accused of disposing of their bodies and disposing a boot hatch from his Volvo car to defeat the ends of justice.

MacDowell denied both of the murders and one charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

He lodged two special defences in court - one of alibi, claiming he was elsewhere at the time, including in the Mercury Motor Inn with three colleagues before going home.

The other, incrimination, alleged that if the murders did happen, they were committed by Renee's estranged husband Gordon MacRae, acting with others.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

READ MORE:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.