Pensioner guilty of Inverness woman's murder
Liz MacKay's death was described as 'painful and terrifying.'
Last updated 18th May 2017
"No one, I imagine, will ever know why it should be that you attacked this woman in this fashion" JUDGE MICHAEL O'GRADY QC
A pensioner who murdered a 60-year-old woman after subjecting her to a 'painful and terrifying' attack in her own home is facing a life sentence.
Michael Taylor (71) was convicted on Thursday morning at the High Court in Edinburgh on a single charge of murder.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how prosecutors were unable to discover why he took Elizabeth's life.
But the court heard how Taylor grabbed defenceless Liz Mackay (pictured below) at her Hilton home in Kintail Court, Inverness, before repeatedly punching her on the head.
He then caused her to fall to the ground and she lost consciousness. Taylor, a widower, then repeatedly struck her on the head with what prosecutors suspect was either a kitchen pot or pan.
He then removed Elizabeth's clothing and handled her breasts, biting her chest before fleeing the scene.
Taylor, a prisoner of HMP Inverness, denied committing the crime. But he was caught after police found his fingerprints and "large amounts" of his DNA at the scene.
Detectives also discovered that Taylor (pictured below) had admitted assaulting Elizabeth to two people following the crime.
On their second day of deliberations, jurors returned a guilty verdict to murder.
Judge Michael O'Grady QC told Taylor that the law required him to pass a life sentence for murder. But Judge O'Grady also told Taylor that he would have to obtain a report about his character before he would impose the sentence.
Ordering Taylor to be remanded in custody, judge O'Grady told Taylor: "Mr Taylor - you have been convicted of an appalling offence.
"No one, I imagine, will ever know why it should be that you attacked this woman in this fashion"
"What is abundantly clear is that she must have suffered a painful and terrifying death at your hands"
"There's only one sentence I can impose in relation to this offence. However, I'm obliged to obtain a report in this case. The imposition of a life sentence in this case is inevitable."
The court heard that police were unable to find out why Mr Taylor, whose wife died 20 years ago, attacked Ms Mackay.
Police Scotland officers found "compelling" forensic evidence at the scene which showed that Taylor was the man responsible for the crime.
They found his DNA and fingerprints at the murder scene.
Fingerprint expert Karen Smith analysed fingerprints which were left in pools of blood beside Elizabeth's body.
She compared the prints found at Kintail Court with Michael Taylor's fingerprints.
Police also discovered that Taylor had made a confession to other people about attacking Elizabeth.
Witness Vincent Lyle told the court that Taylor had made an incriminating admission to him about his role in Elizabeth's death.
During evidence in the case, Mr Lyle said that Taylor had told him: "I didn't mean to kill her. I only punched her once."
Police also found that Taylor had made similar admissions to others.
Officers gathered enough evidence to arrest Taylor on April 5th last year.
Taylor has been remanded in custody. He will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on June 16th.
"Liz suffered a violent attack at the hands of a person who then tried to evade capture by police" DCI KEITH HARDIE
Detective Chief Inspector Keith Hardie of Police Scotland's Major Investigation Team, who led the inquiry, said: "It was clear from the outset that Elizabeth had suffered a violent attack at the hands of a person who then tried to evade capture by police. She made great efforts to defend herself, but it was sadly not enough"
"Subsequently the full resources of Police Scotland were used to identify and trace Taylor. This involved a wealth of forensic work, extensive proactive policing and invaluable assistance and information from members of the public to result in today's conviction.
"I can only hope that this outcome, which I know may not provide Elizabeth's family and friends with any closure, can help them begin to move on with their lives. Our thoughts are with them today."