Renee MacRae killer William MacDowell seeks to appeal conviction for murder at High Court in Inverness

The killer of Renee MacRae and her three-year-old son Andrew has started appeal procedures days after he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

William MacDowell's defence counsel during the trial Murray Macara KC confirmed today: "We have marked an appeal. We have given notice of intention to appeal."

Mr Macara said they now have a certain length of time to lodge a formal appeal.

In the meantime the legal team will have to pore over copies of the trial judge's "charge" or closing address to the jury to seek any potential grounds on which an appeal might succeed.

Any grounds for an appeal put forward would be examined by a senior judge who would decide on their merit and on whether the appeal should be allowed to proceed.

If refused an appeal can be made against that refusal.

If permission to appeal is granted a hearing will be arranged where points of law from both sides are debated, usually before a panel of judges.

Last Thursday the jury took less than four hours to find MacDowell (80) guilty of the murders of Mrs MacRae (36) and Andrew and disposing of their bodies, which have never been found.

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