Inverness court hears of poor health of accused in MacRae murder trial
William MacDowell's wife says he is on medication and has poor mobility
The wife of a man accused of murder has said her husband's poor health means he is a "walking dead man" and that he has set up a do not resuscitate order, a court heard.
Rosemary MacDowell was giving evidence into the trial of her husband, William MacDowell, at the High Court in Inverness.
The 80-year-old is accused of murdering his son, three-year-old Andrew MacRae, and the child's 36-year-old mother, Renee MacRae, in November 1976.
Mrs MacDowell, also 80, told defence lawyer Murray Macara KC, about her husband's health, including his poor mobility and the medication he is on.
"He has a very sick liver, very sick kidneys and his heart is trying very hard to keep him alive," she said.
"He's actually a walking dead man, and he has a DNR (do not resuscitate) set up already."
MacDowell is on trial charged with assaulting Mrs MacRae and Andrew at the Dalmagarry layby on the A9 trunk road south of Inverness, or elsewhere, by means unknown, and as a result murdering them.
He is also charged with disposing of their bodies and belongings by means unknown.
MacDowell denies all charges and has lodged a special defence of incrimination and alibi.
Retired officer Peter Black, 80, told the court of an "agitated" and "volatile" interview in the 1980s after Mrs MacDowell was detained at the couple's former coaching house, the Crook Inn in Peeblesshire, and taken to the police station in Peebles.
During the interview, he challenged discrepancies in her story as to when her husband arrived home, which she said was about 8.30pm. She said: "Well, that must have been right at the time. I didn't cover up anything."
And, the court heard, when told that television programme The Quest finished after 10pm, and this did not fit with the 8.30pm arrival, Mrs MacDowell did not have an explanation.
In the interview, Mrs MacDowell told the officer: "I don't know what you are getting on at me for. I never stabbed her or whatever happened to her."
The trial, before Lord Armstrong, continues.