A former head gamekeeper has told a jury that he “didn’t like” the ex-colleague he is accused of murdering.
David Campbell, 77, was asked about his relationship with Brian Low, and said: “We just didn’t get on. He didn’t like me and I didn’t like him.”
Prosecutors are claiming Campbell gunned down Mr Low, 65, on a remote track near Aberfeldy, Perthshire, on 16 February 2024.
Campbell has pleaded not guilty to eight charges and has lodged a special defence of alibi in connection with the shotgun murder accusation – claiming he was at home at the time of the alleged shooting.
Both men had worked at Edradynate Estate, where Campbell was head gamekeeper between May 1984 and February 2018 and Mr Low was a groundsman between August 2000 and February 2023.
Campbell took to the stand in his own defence during his trial at the High Court in Glasgow on Tuesday.
When asked about Mr Low by his KC Tony Lenehan, the accused stated: “We didn’t speak to each other.”
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Earlier this month, local farmer Sally Crystal, 77, told advocate depute Greg Farrell that she was friends with both men and helped out at Edradynate Estate during shooting season.
She claimed Campbell spoke of his dislike of Mr Low, allegedly telling her: “I f****** loathe that man. I hate him.”
Campbell denied making the alleged comment and claimed he never spoke to Ms Crystal about his colleague.
During his testimony, Campbell said Mr Low was “really good” at his job.
Campbell is also facing five separate breach of the peace charges spanning between July 1995 and September 2012.
One of the complainers, retired police officer Alan Stewart, 78, previously told the court that he became acquainted with Campbell due to the accused’s work as a gamekeeper, and his own role in investigating wildlife crime.
At Scone Palace’s game fair in the summer of 1995, Campbell admitted saying to Mr Stewart: “The vermin you see when you don’t have a gun in your hand.”
Campbell claimed he did not mean it as a threat but accepted it was an “unpleasant” thing to say.
He also admitted shouting at Leona Forrest, 62, who in 1997 lived in a cottage on the estate with her family as her husband worked on the grounds.
Campbell accepted he shouted and swore in regards to Ms Forrest’s husband, branding him “bone idle”, but denied the complainer’s accusation that he was so close she could “feel his spit” on her face.
Read more from the trial:
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Alleged killer thought murder victim was trying to ‘set him up’
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Suspect branded police ‘desperate’ when accused of shooting
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Campbell additionally denied threatening to shoot Richard Wright, 63, a handyman on the estate; Maksymilian Konchanski, 42, a man who carried out work for him at a house he owned; and Marta Oles, 42, Mr Konchanski’s ex-partner, who once rented a room at another property owned by the accused.
Jurors earlier heard from Neil McKay, a senior forensic scientist at the Scottish Police Authority.
Mr McKay told the court Mr Low was most likely shot from a distance of between 19m and 45m.
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Two new joint minutes were also read out to the jury.
Within the agreed evidence it was accepted that Peter Fullard, who has since died, purchased a Walther Rotex RM8 air rifle and accessories for Campbell in May 2017 – almost two weeks after the accused had been refused a firearms certificate by authorities.
A timeline of Campbell’s movements around the day of the alleged murder was also set out.
It has been accepted that he twice placed duct tape over his doorbell camera, once at 7.35am and again at 11.10am on 16 February 2024.
At 10.09am, the home’s CCTV system was manually shut down.
The first footage recorded on the doorbell camera after being covered with duct tape occurred at 7.32pm, with the rear door of the house being seen to be closed from the inside.
Within minutes, Campbell is spotted in a boiler suit going out the same door.
Scotland reporter
The alleged murder of Brian Low is said to have taken place in Leafy Lane, Aberfeldy, near to the Pitilie Track, on 16 February 2024.
Mr Low’s body was first discovered on 17 February 2024, with a paramedic pronouncing him dead at 9am.
David Campbell is accused of previously showing “malice and ill-will” towards Mr Low, and is alleged to have discharged a shotgun at him, leaving him so severely hurt that he died at the scene.
Prosecutors allege he earlier disabled CCTV cameras at Tigh Na Caorann in Aberfeldy’s Crieff Road in an attempt to conceal his whereabouts.
He is further accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice between 16 February and 24 May 2024 by disposing of the alleged murder weapon and gun bag; disposing of a Walther Rotex RM8 airgun; having replacement tyres fitted on an electric bike reportedly used during the alleged shooting; and dumping a box, a cartridge bag and bicycle tyres at Aberfeldy Recycling Centre or elsewhere.
Campbell additionally faces five separate breach of the peace charges spanning between July 1995 and September 2012.
He is said to have acted in a disorderly manner, putting three men and two women in a “state of fear and alarm”.
Campbell is further accused of possessing a Walther Rotex RM8 airgun between May 2017 and February 2024 without the relevant certificate, and discharging it on various occasions.
The trial, before Lord Scott, continues.
