A person accused of murdering a girl and their younger son over 45-years in the past won't stand to provide proof in his defence.
William MacDowell, 80, denies murdering 36-year-old Renee MacRae and their son, Andrew MacRae, three, at a layby south of Inverness on November 12, 1976.
His lawyer Murray Macara KC informed the jury on the Excessive Court docket in Inverness that his shopper won't be giving proof within the trial.
The jury, nonetheless, heard from Kenneth Goudie, MacDowell's son-in-law, who informed the court docket he has by no means mentioned the case with MacDowell, or his mother-in-law, Rosemary.
The 59-year-old, informed the court docket he had lived with the MacDowells on the Criminal Inn, in Peeblesshire, for about three months and through that point was requested concerning the case by the pub's handyman, Mitchell Yuill.
The court docket heard the pair had been having a couple of drinks on the bar after work, and the late Mr Yuill informed him: "I imagine your father-in-law is kind of well-known up in your a part of the world."
The motor commerce employee mentioned he was requested by Mr Yuill concerning the MacRae disappearance, however he didn't have interaction with him.
He informed the court docket that he, Mr Yuill and MacDowell had gone north to the MacDowells' previous house in Nairnside, close to Inverness, to maneuver some vegetation in a Ford Capri, however of their journey there was "nothing of observe".
Dr Alfred Gamblen, Mrs MacRae's GP, informed the court docket that within the interval main as much as her disappearance he noticed a person with a handlebar moustache, just like the one in police photofits on the time, in a automobile outdoors his View Place observe in Inverness.
The court docket heard Dr Gamblen, who knew Mrs MacRae each socially and as her GP, went inside to search out them.
"There was a senior receptionist and two individuals within the ready room. Renee MacRae was one and her son, I feel Andrew, was there," the court docket was informed.
He mentioned the person outdoors within the automobile had a girlfriend on the surgical procedure, and he informed the police on the time concerning the sighting by way of a confidential phoneline as a way to not jeopardise the person, whom he recognized as a soccer goalkeeper in one of many Highland leagues.
George Gordon, who was going for dinner on the Meallmore Lodge, close to Inverness, on the night Mrs MacRae disappeared, mentioned he noticed an empty BMW outdoors the lodge.
He, his spouse and their mates had been within the lounge and he went for some drinks the place he noticed a girl he recognized as Mrs MacRae on the bar by herself.
The 75-year-old mentioned he observed her sheepskin jacket and blonde hair, and informed the court docket he didn't see a toddler together with her.
MacDowell, of Penrith, Cumbria, is on trial charged with assaulting Mrs MacRae and Andrew on the Dalmagarry layby on the A9 trunk highway south of Inverness, or elsewhere, by means unknown, and in consequence murdering them.
He's additionally accused of disposing of the our bodies of Mrs MacRae and her son and in addition disposing of a boot hatch from his Volvo automobile to defeat the ends of justice, which he denies.
He has lodged a particular defence of incrimination and alibi, a part of which is he was on the Mercury Motor Inn, Inverness, that night earlier than going house by way of his work and a store.
The trial, earlier than Lord Armstrong, continues.
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