70 year old man in court following murder charge
Michael Taylor is to appear again in private within the next seven days
A 70 year old man has been remanded in custody on a charge of murdering an Inverness woman in her home last week. Michael Taylor, also from Inverness, appeared in private at Inverness Sheriff Court before Sheriff Margaret Neilson, accused of killing 60 year old Liz Mackay or Muir in her house at 5 Kintail Court, Inverness. During the brief court appearance, Taylor made no plea or declaration and will next appear again in private within the next seven days. He was represented by Inverness lawyer John MacColl having been taken to Burnett Road police station for questioning by detectives on Tuesday afternoon. Late on Wednesday afternoon, police confirmed that a man had been charged. Wearing a blue T-shirt and grey jogging bottoms, Taylor was driven from local police cells to Inverness Castle shortly after 9am. As he emerged from the van, his head appeared injured and grazed and he was unsteady on his feet. He told a security officer he was worried about tripping on the few steps down from the van and the officer kept a tight grip of the handcuffed pensioner as he negotiated them safely. He was then guided through to the Court cell block where he remained for several hours before being taken to court room one for the chambers hearing. Afterwards, the Crown Office issued the following statement: "Michael Andrew Taylor, date of birth 26/6/45 from Inverness appeared in private at Inverness Sheriff Court on a charge of murder. He made no plea no declaration, was committed for further examination and remanded in custody. His next appearance is anticipated on April 15th. The parents of Liz Mackay have also issued a photograph of their daughter, who kept little contact with them or the rest of her family, which includes a daughter and two sisters. She has been described by friends and neighbours as "a very private woman, a bit of a loner" and someone "who wouldn't hurt a fly by her family. Her ex husband Terence Muir lives in Bournemouth and he said he was "devastated" by her death.