A former head gamekeeper has been found guilty of the shotgun murder of an ex-colleague.
David Campbell, 77, coldly gunned down Brian Low, 65, on a remote track near Aberfeldy, Perthshire, in February 2024 and used his wife’s e-bike to flee the scene.
Advocate Depute Greg Farrell described it as a “brazen, brutal and planned execution”, adding: “David Campbell was an expert shot. He hunted Brian Low down like he was quarry.”
The killer earlier disabled his home CCTV system and placed duct tape over his doorbell camera in a bid to conceal his whereabouts on the day of the murder.
He also got rid of the shotgun, which has never been found, and changed the tyres on the getaway bike in an attempt to cover his tracks.
Campbell denied any wrongdoing and claimed he was at home at the time of the fatal shooting, but jurors at the High Court in Glasgow saw through his lies and convicted him of murder.
Both men had previously worked at Edradynate Estate, where Campbell was head gamekeeper and Mr Low was a groundsman.
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While giving evidence, Campbell denied shooting Mr Low out of “sheer malice” as he rebuked Mr Farrell for calling him a “liar”.
When asked about his relationship with Mr Low, the killer said: “We just didn’t get on. He didn’t like me and I didn’t like him.”
Mr Low was shot dead on Leafy Lane, near to the Pitilie Track, on 16 February 2024. His body was discovered the following day.
The beginning of the inquiry was mired in controversy after Police Scotland initially treated the death as a “medical event”, with Mr Low’s bloody injuries suspected to have been caused by a fall.
The court heard that Mr Low’s face had around 30 shotgun pellet injuries and when his remains reached a mortuary, shotgun pellets fell out of the bag.
A post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death to be gunshot wounds to the neck and chest.
The force’s blunder meant the crime scene was not sealed off and forensically examined until days after Mr Low’s body was found.
Three months later, Campbell was arrested and charged.
During his interview with police, he told detectives they were “desperate” with their accusations and said they were “just trying to save face” due to their mistake at the start of the probe.
While on the stand, Campbell stated: “They made a monumental shambles of the whole investigation.”
Police Scotland told Sky News relevant policies and procedures have since been reviewed, with changes implemented as part of “ongoing work to develop detective training”.
Crown witnesses testified how the killer had suspected his victim of trying to “set him up” in regards to wildlife offences after dead birds were found on the estate.
A local farmer, who was friends with both men, told jurors that Campbell once reportedly said of Mr Low: “I f****** loathe that man. I hate him.”
Campbell denied saying that but admitted spreading “absolute lies” about Mr Low.
He claimed he was “ordered” by Michael Campbell, his former boss at Edradynate Estate who has since died, to lie about Mr Low planting rat poison at his home.
Campbell claimed this was part of his boss’s efforts to get rid of Mr Low.
Jurors were also shown a formal written warning sent to Mr Low in May 2011 for indulging in “cruel gossip” about Campbell and his wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Campbell.
Mr Low, who apologised for saying some “extremely unpleasant things” about the couple to people not employed on the estate, was threatened with dismissal if something similar happened again.
However, in a statement given to police in April 2024, estate owner Mr Campbell said Mr Low “left on very good terms” and was given a car and money as a retirement gift in 2023.
Campbell, meanwhile, admitted being “sacked” in 2017.
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Mr Low’s iPhone was analysed and “no movement data” was logged on the device between 4.52pm on 16 February and 11.26am on 17 February 2024.
A cyclist captured on CCTV in the Aberfeldy area on the 16th disappeared from view between 4.18pm and 5.01pm.
Prosecutors argued this was Campbell carrying out the murder as the bike had similarities to one belonging to his wife – which included a distinct wingmirror on the right handlebar.
In the days after the shooting, Campbell attended Crightons Cycles in Blairgowrie and had two replacement tyres fitted on to the electric bike in a bid to avoid detection.
However, soil sample analysis later connected it to the area where Mr Low’s body was found.
Mrs Campbell, who was in Dunfermline visiting her daughter at the time of the murder, provided an explanation during her own testimony by way of claiming she had been on her bike a few times in late 2023 and early 2024 in the surrounding area.
Campbell was questioned if he had discussed the soil connection with his wife ahead of the trial, with Mr Farrell stating: “You knew that soil sample analysis was a problem.”
The killer repeatedly became agitated with the prosecutor during cross-examination, stating curtly at one point: “Why do you keep calling me a liar? I take great offence at that.”
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Seven other charges – including attempting to defeat the ends of justice and multiple breaches of the peace dating back to 1995 – were dropped by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) on Friday.
Police Scotland said it has since “reflected and learned from the initial stages of the investigation”.
A force spokesperson added: “All relevant policies and procedures were reviewed and immediate organisational changes, relating to attendance at scenes of crime and mortuary procedures, were implemented.
“This learning forms part of ongoing work to develop detective training.”
