Part 1

A look into the heart of the long-awaited murder trial related to one of Scotland’s most notorious unsolved mysteries - the sudden, unexpected disappearance of Renee MacRae and her three-year-old son Andrew, and the Scottish criminal justice system’s 46-year quest for justice. Nearly half a century on, William MacDowell, a senior member of staff at Renee’s husband’s construction firm, stands accused of killing the young mother and son, disposing of their bodies and concealing these crimes for decades.

With remarkable access to the courtroom, one of the most long-awaited murder trials in Scotland’s history is finally heard. This documentary puts viewers in the jury box alongside the 15 ordinary members of the public who must decide the fate of the accused, as the prosecution and defence advocates set out and defend their cases, detailing their contrasting interpretations of the dramatic twists and turns of this shocking, confounding case.