Accused denies murdering ex-colleague 'out of sheer malice'

A former head gamekeeper has denied murdering an ex-colleague out of "sheer malice", a trial at the High Court in Glasgow has heard.

David Campbell, 77, is accused of shooting Brian Low, 65, at Leafy Lane, near the Pitilie Track, Aberfeldy, on 16 February 2024.

Jurors previously heard how the men had in the past worked on the Edradynate Estate in Aberfeldy, where Low had been a groundsman.

Campbell denies a total of eight charges and has lodged a special defence of alibi on the murder charge.

On the twelfth day of the trial, prosecutor Greg Farrell asked Campbell: "You shot Brian Low out of sheer malice?"

Campbell replied: "Malice for what? We never fell in or out. We just did not speak to each other."

During his testimony, the former gamekeeper said to Farrell: "Just stop calling me a liar."

Campbell was also asked about footage of a cyclist captured on camera in the Aberfeldy area on the day of the alleged murder.

Jurors previously heard how the individual was captured at 16:12 a "couple of streets away" from Campbell's home.

Cameras were said to have lost sight of the cyclist between 16:18 and 17:01. The last "movement data" recorded on Low's phone that day was at 16:52.

Farrell put it to Campbell: "That is you on that bike."

He replied: "It certainly is not."

Campbell went on to further deny that was why he "shut down" the CCTV system at his home.

Farrell again referred to soil analysis said to connect the e-bike of Campbell's wife Betty to the area where the death occurred.

The advocate depute suggested this was "a problem" for Campbell.

Betty Campbell claimed in her evidence that she had been in that area on her e-bike a number of times in late 2023-early 2024.

Following a number of defence witnesses, evidence has now been concluded in the trial.

Campbell, from Aberfeldy, is accused of murdering Low, having previously shown ill-will and malice toward him.

He is alleged to have disabled CCTV cameras at an address in Aberfeldy on the same day, in an attempt to conceal his whereabouts.

Campbell is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of the alleged murder weapon and an airgun, and having replacement tyres fitted on an electric bike between February and May 2024.

He is further accused of possessing an air rifle without a licence and discharging it on various occasions, and faces five charges of breach of the peace dating back to July 1995.

Campbell is alleged to have acted in a disorderly manner putting three men and two women in a "state of fear and alarm".

His legal team has lodged a special defence of alibi in connection with the murder accusation.

They say Campbell was not in Leafy Lane, where the body was found, at the time of the killing and was instead at home in Aberfeldy.

Campbell denies all the charges.

The trial, before Lord Scott, continues.