Alleged shotgun murder initially treated as non-suspicious death, court told

A man allegedly murdered with a shotgun by a former head gamekeeper was initially thought to have died after a medical episode and a fall, a court has heard.

A trial at the High Court in Glasgow was told on Friday that the death of Brian Low was initially treated as non-suspicious after he was found dead on a track with blood on his face just outside Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross.

It is alleged David Campbell, 77, shot Mr Low, 65, with a shotgun on February 16, 2024, having previously disabled CCTV cameras at an address in the town in an attempt to conceal his whereabouts.

He is accused of shooting Mr Low at Leafy Lane near Pitilie “having previously evinced malice and ill-will towards him”, leaving him so severely injured that he died at the scene.

Campbell denies all eight charges against him.

His trial heard from Detective Constable Mark Chance on Friday, who arrived at the scene at around 10.15am on February 17.

He said he carried out “visual observations” of the body, which was under a blanket, and noted Mr Low had cuts to his face and hands which he thought were “consistent with him having fallen”.

Mr Chance said he then reported his observations to his superiors.

Prosecutor Greg Farrell asked the detective what his assessment of the situation was from what he could see at that time.

Mr Chance said: “At that point I thought the injuries may be consistent with the deceased having fallen while out for a walk, whether a medical episode or otherwise.”

The court also heard from Pc Andrew Beattie, who was based in Pitlochry and arrived at the scene at around 9am that morning.

He said he saw Mr Low’s body, which was partly covered by a jacket, and noticed there was blood on his face.

The officer said he did not think the situation looked good and contacted the control room so CID could be alerted, as was protocol with a death in the open.

Pc Beattie then left the scene to trace Mr Low’s partner. He said when he returned, he was told by Mr Chance that the incident was to be treated as a “non-suspicious death”.

During cross-examination, Tony Lenehan KC, representing Campbell, showed the jury a photo of Mr Low’s face covered in blood and suggested the marks of shotgun pellets could be seen.

He asked whether the amount of blood had “amplified your suspicions about what had happened”, and Pc Beattie agreed.

Mr Lenehan said: “You will come to hear there are a number of black holes representing the penetration of shotgun pellets. Was that not apparent at the time?”

The officer replied that it was not.

The court also heard the first paramedic at the scene thought Mr Low had died after a “sudden medical event”.

Andrew Bryce was on duty at Pitlochry ambulance station on the morning of February 17 when he was sent to a report of a “cardiac arrest” by his control room.

He said when he arrived, Mr Low was lying on his side on the ground partly covered by a jacket.

Mr Bryce told the court he saw a small amount of blood on Mr Low’s face and that he was obviously dead as there was post-mortem staining, rigor mortis and the body was “freezing cold” to the touch.

The paramedic told the court he thought the blood may have been the result of Mr Low falling and striking his head.

The court also heard Mr Low’s black Labrador was still at his side when emergency services arrived.

Mr Bryce said the dog appeared “very protective” of his owner and growled at him when he approached.

Campbell is also charged with possessing an air weapon without a certificate and discharging it on various occasions between May 2017 and February 2024.

He is accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice between February 16 and May 24, 2024 by disposing of the shotgun used to commit the alleged murder at an unknown location.

It is also alleged he had two replacement tyres fitted on an electric bicycle used in committing the alleged crime, and in addition that he disposed of a box, a cartridge bag and bicycle tyres at Aberfeldy Recycling Centre or elsewhere and of the air weapon at an unknown location.

Campbell also faces five separate breach of the peace charges, the earliest dating to July 1995 and the latest to September 2012.

Campbell denies all charges against him and has lodged a notice of alibi in respect of the murder charge, saying he was at home in Aberfeldy at the time of the alleged crime.

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.

The trial continues before Lord Scott.