The estranged husband of Renee MacRae has told a court that 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 defence team have lodged a special defence of incrimination, accusing Mr MacRae and unknown others of killing the pair.
MacDowell’s counsel, Murray MacAra KC cross-examined Mr MacRae and asked him: “Did you feel at any stage that the police suspected that 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 that she was pregnant with Andrew and he was not the father.
Mrs MacRae’s estranged husband also confirmed that his wife had also had a miscarriage and an abortion.
He said: “I hardly knew Andrew. There was no animosity but I find it difficult to remember anything about Andrew. We got to the stage that we had to live separately”.
Mr MacRae confirmed that he had told his wife that 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 that 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 the whole time. If he was innocent, he would have said ‘Yes Gordon, what can I do to help?’.”
Mr MacRae told advocate depute Alex Prentice KC that he and his wife were “always amicable. But it was not an intimate relationship”.
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”.
‘I have not seen them since’
The jury heard that he gifted Mrs MacRae a detached bungalow in Cradlehall and a blue BMW, which was found ablaze in the lay-by with no sign of the still missing mother and child.
Mr MacRae added that he had been working late at a business meeting the night they vanished and had gone straight to his home at Drummond Crescent, Inverness, from his Harbour Road headquarters.
Asked if he had any idea where they might be, he said: “No idea. I have not seen them since”.
Mr McAra 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. It is preposterous what you are saying.”
Mr McAra said: “I am not suggesting that 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. It is incredible.”
Questions about police statement
Mr MacRae was then questioned about whether he told police about Renee drinking to excess and taking pills.
He said he couldn’t remember.
Mr McAra then asked Mr MacRae about a statement he made to police in November 1976 which recorded him telling them that 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, before Lord Armstrong at the High Court in Inverness, continues.
