A murder suspect told police they were “desperate” and “just trying to save face” when they accused him of shooting a former colleague dead, a court has heard.
Prosecutors are claiming David Campbell, 77, gunned down former colleague Brian 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.
At the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, jurors were shown Campbell’s police interview after he was arrested in May 2024 over Mr Low’s death.
Campbell told Detective Constable David Budd: “They’re just trying to save face.”
It is thought the comment was made regarding a blunder at the beginning of the inquiry, when Police Scotland initially treated the death as a “medical event” despite Mr Low having died of gunshot wounds to the neck and chest.
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The mistake meant the crime scene was not sealed off and forensically examined until days after Mr Low’s body was found.
Campbell repeatedly denied any wrongdoing during the interview, telling DC Budd: “I think you’re desperate.”
When once again asked if he shot Mr Low, the accused replied: “I certainly did not.”
Read more from the trial:
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Alleged killer thought murder victim was trying to ‘set him up’
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Wife ‘can’t remember’ if husband had grievances with Mr Low
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DC Budd agreed with Advocate Depute Greg Farrell that the interview became “heated” and accepted he himself was “quite confrontational”.
Campbell was said to have stated: “Who is this guy Brian Low? Is he the king’s son?”
DC Budd agreed with Mr Farrell that he took it to mean that the accused was suggesting that a lot of money and resources had been put into Mr Low’s case.
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Campbell also told the interviewing officers: “You don’t even know if it was deliberately done or accidentally done.”
The ex-head gamekeeper added: “Some people shoot and get shot every year.”
When told it was a murder inquiry, Mr Campbell replied: “It could have been an accidental killing.”
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.
