The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Renee’ s husband denies being a suspect in case
The estranged husband of Renee MacRae has told a court he has no knowledge of police ever suspecting he was responsible for her disappearance.
The Inverness mum and her three-year-old son Andrew have not been seen since they vanished 46 years ago and their bodies have never been found.
Retired building firm boss Gordon MacRae, 85, was giving evidence on the second day of the trial of his former company secretary, William MacDowell, 80.
MacDowell denies murdering the 36-year-old woman and the toddler – who was also his son – at the Dalmagarry lay-by on the A9, on November 12 1976, disposing of their bodies and attempting to pervert the course of justice by destroying evidence. His team have lodged a special defence of incrimination, accusing Mr MacRae and unknown others of killing the pair.
MacDowell’s counsel, Murray Macara KC, crossexamined Mr MacRae and asked him: “Did you feel at any stage the police suspected you were involved in their disappearance?”
Mr MacRae replied: “No. Not at all.”
He also denied consulting a solicitor about divorcing his wife after learning she was pregnant with Andrew and he was not the father.
Mr MacRae said: “I hardly knew Andrew. There was no animosity but I find it difficult to remember anything about Andrew.”
Mr MacRae confirmed he had told his wife it would have been “unacceptable” if the person she had an affair with was an employee, but was unsure if he had said the person would be dismissed.
The court heard MacDowell was sacked by Mr MacRae three days after the disappearance.
“I asked him if he could help the police in any way he should do so,” Mr MacRae told the jury.
“He didn’t say a word. If he was innocent, he would have said ‘Yes Gordon, what can I do to help?’”
Mr MacRae told advocate depute Alex Prentice KC he and his wife were “always amicable”. Asked if he was keen to maintain their support, he replied: “No question about it. I wanted to make sure she lived a comfortable life”.
The jury heard he gifted Mrs MacRae a bungalow in Cradlehall, Inverness, and a blue BMW, which was found ablaze in the lay-by with no sign of the missing mother and child.
Mr MacRae added that he had been working late the night they vanished and had gone straight to his home at Drummond Crescent, Inverness.
Asked if he had any idea where they might be, he said: “No idea.”
Mr Macara questioned Mr MacRae about things he said or may have said to police and an ex-girlfriend, Iris Davidson.
“Did you ever have a conversation with her that a quarry would be a good place to hide a body?”
Mr MacRae replied: “No, absolute nonsense.”
Mr Macara said: “I am not suggesting you went to Dalmagarry but I am asking you if you were in any way complicit for Renee’s disappearance?”
Mr MacRae responded: “I can’t express my indignation that this should be suggested.”
Mr MacRae was then questioned about whether he told police about Renee drinking and taking pills.
He said he couldn’t remember. Mr Macara then asked Mr MacRae about a statement he made to police in November 1976 which recorded him telling them he came home to find Mrs MacRae “on pills and drunk. I thought she was going to kill herself ”.
Mr MacRae replied: “I can’t recall saying this. I think it is inaccurate.”
Re-examined by Mr Prentice, he was again asked: “Did you have any part whatsoever and in any way with the disappearance of Renee and Andrew?” “Absolutely none,” he responded.
The trial, at the High Court in Inverness, continues.