A former gamekeeper accused of murder has denied shooting an ex-colleague dead out of “sheer malice” as he rebuked a prosecutor for calling him a “liar”.
David Campbell, 77, is accused of gunning down Brian Low, 65, on a remote track near Aberfeldy, Perthshire, on 16 February 2024.
At the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday, advocate depute Greg Farrell said to the accused: “You shot Brian Low dead out of sheer malice.”
The defendant replied: “Malice for what? Brian and I never even fell out, we just didn’t speak to each other.”
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 previously worked at Edradynate Estate, where Campbell was head gamekeeper and Mr Low was a groundsman before retirement.
The trial has previously heard how Campbell twice placed duct tape over his doorbell camera and manually shut down his home CCTV system on the morning of the alleged murder.
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The accused, who described himself as a “dinosaur” with technology, claimed he “certainly didn’t mean” to switch the CCTV off.
Mr Farrell highlighted how Campbell initially denied shutting down the device until expert testimony showed it had been switched off at 10.09am while he was at home.
The accused responded curtly: “Why do you keep calling me a liar? I take great offence at that.”
Following further challenges, he added: “Just stop calling me a liar.”
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Part of the Crown case revolves around a cyclist captured on CCTV in Aberfeldy who prosecutors believe may have been Mr Low’s killer.
It has been argued the bike has similar features to one owned by Campbell’s wife, Elizabeth Campbell.
Mr Farrell put it to the accused: “That’s you on that bike.”
Campbell replied: “It most certainly is not.”
Read more from the trial:
Murder suspect admits he ‘didn’t like’ alleged victim
Murder suspect brands police probe ‘monumental shambles’
The accused also claimed he would not be able to peddle as proficiently as the cyclist and said of the shape of the biker: “I think I would fit inside that person.”
However, Campbell agreed with the prosecutor that he had lost weight over the last two years, adding: “I don’t have the tummy I used to have.”
Jurors have also heard how Campbell changed the tyres on his wife’s e-bike in the days following Mr Low’s death.
The accused has claimed he did it as a “surprise” for his partner as she had previously been cycling in a forest and felt her tyres were “too narrow” for the path.
Mrs Campbell was reportedly unaware her tyres had been replaced until after the bike was seized by police in May 2024.
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When questioned over why he never told Mrs Campbell he had her tyres changed, the accused stated: “When you love someone very much, like my wife and I do, it’s great to give them little surprises.”
Campbell said he could not remember what he did with the old tyres but most likely “chucked them in the skip”.
The defendant accepted he had used his wife’s bike on 6 November 2023, however, denied taking it out after that date.
Jurors previously heard how soil sample analysis has connected Mrs Campbell’s bike to the area where Mr Low’s body was found.
In her own testimony, Mrs Campbell claimed 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 sample analysis with his wife ahead of the trial, with Mr Farrell stating: “You knew that soil sample analysis was a problem.”
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.
