A pensioner accused of murdering a woman was “quite agitated” during a bus journey around the time of her death, a court heard yesterday.
Witness Angela Nicolson, 30, told a jury yesterday that 71-year-old Michael Taylor appeared to be quite distracted when she sat beside him on public transport in Inverness.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Miss Nicolson, who lives in the city, met Mr Taylor on Monday March 28 last year. Prosecutors claim Mr Taylor murdered Elizabeth MacKay, who was also known as Liz Muir, at a property in Inverness between March 28 and March 31.
Miss Nicolson told the court that on Easter Monday last year, she met Mr Taylor waiting on a bus and got on and sat beside him. She told the court that his appearance was different from the other occasions in which she met him. Miss Nicolson said: “He was clean shaven. He had cut his hair.” The witness then told the court that Mr Taylor didn’t appear to be himself. She said: “He seemed quite agitated and quiet. He didn’t speak much. He was quite fidgety.”
They both got off the bus and she added: “He wanted me to get him a can of cider from the shop. I think he paid for it.” The court heard that Miss Nicolson became aware of the death of Elizabeth MacKay from reports in the local press. She spoke to the police at the end of April 2016.
Jurors were shown CCTV footage which showed Miss Nicolson sitting on a bus with Mr Taylor.
Prosecutors allege that between March 28 2016 and March 31 2016, Mr Taylor assaulted Elizabeth by seizing hold of her body and her hair at a house in the city’s Kintail Court.
It is claimed that Mr Taylor repeatedly punched her on the head and caused her to fall to the ground. The Crown alleges that Mr Taylor then repeatedly struck Elizabeth on the head and body with a “blunt” object before removing her clothing and handling her breasts.
Prosecutors also allege that Mr Taylor bit her breast and that he “did murder her.”
The second charge alleges that at the same address on the same dates, Mr Taylor searched through a handbag before stealing groceries, pots, cutlery and keys.
Mr Taylor, described as a prisoner of HMP Inverness, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial, which is being heard before judge Michael O’Grady QC, continues.