Wife blows kiss to murder accused before giving evidence

The wife of a former gamekeeper has told a trial she was not aware of any grievances her husband had with the man he is accused of murdering.

Betty Campbell said she did not recall a problem between David Campbell and Brian Low, despite previously stating to police there were "one or two" issues when they worked together on the Edradynate Estate in Aberfeldy.

Campbell is accused of killing Low while he walked his dog on a footpath in Leafy Lane, Aberfeldy, on 16 February, 2024.

Campbell, 77, denies murdering the 65-year-old by shooting him and has lodged a special defence of alibi.

The 77-year-old blew a kiss to her husband of 57 years as she took to the witness box on the seventh day of the trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

She told the court that she also knew Low from Edradynate, as she had previously worked in the "big house" on the estate.

Asked how she got on with him, Betty Campbell said their jobs "did not coincide in any way".

She then said the work of the two men was also separate and that Campbell only needed "help" from Low with a tractor.

Prosecutor Greg Farrell asked her if there had been any grievances between her husband and Low.

She replied: "No, as far as I know."

Farrell asked if she said anything different in a statement to police.

The witness replied: "I do not think so, no."

Farrell then read out part of her statement made to police officers in late February 2024.

This included a claim that they "did not interact over the years" and that she had "no feelings for or against the guy".

She was then said to have stated: "There were one or two grievances between Brian and Dave at the Edradynate, but I do not want to comment as I do not have a clue what they were about or if I did, I have forgotten."

In court, the witness added that she did "not particularly" remember these apparent issues.

Farrell asked: "Why say that in your statement?"

She replied: "I left Edradynate nine or 10 years ago, I have moved on.

"I cannot be asked to remember grievances that I had nothing to do with."

The advocate depute asked: "I am asking you as you stand here on oath if you remember were there any grievances on the Edradynate between Brian and David?"

Campbell replied that she did not remember and "cannot explain" why that was in her statement.

David 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.

He 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.

Campbell 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.

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

Campbell's 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.