A pensioner has been committed for trial after being accused of murdering a woman in her home in Inverness.
Michael Taylor appeared in private at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday to face the charge of murdering Liz Mackay in the Hilton area earlier this month.
It was the 70-year-old’s second appearance in court after he was charged with murder last week.
He made no plea or declaration during the private hearing and has been remanded in custody.
He has been fully committed for trial and the date of his next appearance in court is yet to be confirmed.
The body of 60-year-old Ms Mackay was discovered in the kitchen her home at 5 Kintail Court on Friday, April 1.
She was found by friends visiting her home.
A major police investigation was launched in the days after her body was discovered, with specialist officers being drafted in from all over Scotland to work on the case.
The mother-of-one has been described as “a very private woman, a bit of a loner” but as someone “who wouldn’t hurt a fly”.
It is understood that she had had little contact with her family for several years leading up to her death.
Ms MacKay moved into her home eight years ago, and was one of the first tenants to live in the council house – dubbed the “house of horrors” by neighbours – after Brian Grant, who murdered hairdresser Ilene O’Connor and then buried her in the garden a decade ago.
Grant was jailed for a minimum of 14 years and remains in jail.