Murder accused 'did not get on' with alleged shooting victim

A man formerly employed as a gamekeeper has testified before a jury regarding his complex and strained relationship with the individual he stands accused of murdering. During the ongoing trial at the High Court in Glasgow, David Campbell, who is 77 years old, spoke about his interactions with Brian Low, a 65-year-old dog walker and former co-worker at the Edradynate Estate. Campbell openly acknowledged that the two did not get along, stating simply, “He didn’t like me and I didn’t like him.”

Campbell faces charges related to the shooting of Low along a remote path at Leafy Lane near Pitilie Track on February 16, 2024. He denies all eight charges brought against him, including the murder charge, for which he has entered a special defence of alibi. Campbell claims that on the day in question, he was at his home in Aberfeldy, not at the scene of the shooting, and has been providing evidence in his own defence since the tenth day of the trial.

Throughout his testimony, Campbell was questioned about his interactions with Low, who had worked as a groundsman on the estate while Campbell served as the head keeper. When asked by his counsel Tony Lenehan if there had been any communication between him and Low, Campbell replied, “We didn’t speak to each other.” Furthermore, he denied ever saying he hated Low or threatening to harm him. Despite these denials, Campbell admitted to making some comments in the past, such as telling a wildlife police officer: “Vermin you see when you don’t have a gun in your hand.” He refuted allegations that he had threatened other individuals, including the estate handyman Richard Wright.

The prosecution presented a timeline of Campbell’s movements on the day of the alleged murder, highlighting actions involving his home security system. Evidence showed that Campbell taped over his video doorbell camera in the morning, manually disabled the home’s CCTV under three hours later, and had a phone conversation with his daughter regarding this. The doorbell tape was removed briefly before being reapplied around 11:10 AM. Footage only resumed in the evening, capturing Campbell leaving his house wearing a boiler suit. Additionally, evidence was introduced that an air rifle had been purchased for Campbell in 2017 by a now-deceased acquaintance after Campbell had been denied a firearms certificate. Forensic testimony indicated that Low was shot from a distance of between 19 and 45 meters using the muzzle end of a shotgun.

In addition to the murder accusation, Campbell faces other charges including possession and use of an air rifle without a licence, attempts to conceal his location by disabling CCTV cameras, and tampering with evidence by disposing of the alleged murder weapon and replacing tyres on an electric bike. There are also several breach of the peace charges dating back to 1995, alleging disorderly conduct that caused fear and alarm among five individuals. Campbell’s legal team maintains that he was not at the location of the crime and contests all charges. The trial continues under Lord Scott’s supervision

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