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Murder suspect allegedly expected to be arrested
In 2024, an incident occurred on a secluded lane near Aberfeldy, where Brian Low was allegedly shot by David Campbell.
In a court hearing, it was revealed that a former head gamekeeper, accused of murder, had expressed concerns that he would be arrested in connection with the crime.
According to testimony, David Campbell made this statement to an acquaintance from his time working on an estate in Aberfeldy, suggesting that the police had limited leads and would likely focus on him.
Campbell is on trial for the alleged murder of 65-year-old Brian Low, who was shot while walking his dog on a footpath in Leafy Lane, Aberfeldy, on February 16, 2024.
The 77-year-old defendant has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and has lodged a special defence of alibi, claiming he was not present at the scene of the crime.
On the fifth day of the trial at the High Court in Glasgow, jurors heard a statement from the late Peter Fullard, which was read out in court.
Fullard, who had worked with Campbell at the Edradynate Estate and had also done construction work on Campbell's home, had maintained a relationship with the former gamekeeper after he left the estate in February 2018.
The two men would occasionally talk on the phone, mainly discussing football, before Campbell's arrest.
Fullard, a builder, had also worked on an extension to Campbell's house and had gotten to know him through their shared connection to the Edradynate Estate, where Brian Low had also worked.
When Fullard learned about Campbell's arrest in connection with Low's death, he reportedly expressed surprise, as he had never seen the two men together.
Fullard stated that he had never witnessed any interaction between Campbell and Low, despite their shared connection to the estate.
In his statement to police, Fullard recalled that Campbell would often call him to discuss football, but never mentioned the murder.
Fullard quoted Campbell as saying that if he were going to kill Low, he would have done it years ago at the Edradynate Estate, and that he expected to be arrested because the police had no other leads.
Detective Constable Greg Irvine, one of the officers who took Fullard's statement in July 2024, read the document to the court.
Prosecutor Greg Farrell asked DC Irvine if Fullard had provided any specific dates for when Campbell made these comments, but Irvine replied that he had not.
However, DC Irvine later agreed that it was logical to assume the conversation took place before Campbell's arrest and the search of his home.
Fullard's statement also described Campbell as a skilled shooter and knowledgeable about firearms, given his experience as a gamekeeper on a prestigious estate.
According to Fullard, Campbell's expertise with firearms was a requirement for his position at the estate, which was known for its high standards.
Fullard also mentioned that Campbell had previously had firearms seized by the police, although he did not know the reason for this, as Campbell was not forthcoming about the details.
Fullard stated that Campbell had mentioned being "stitched up" but did not elaborate further.
In addition to the murder charge, Campbell faces a separate charge of attempting to obstruct justice.
This charge relates to an incident in which Campbell allegedly visited Crighton's Cycles in Blairgowrie to have two replacement tyres fitted on an electronic bike that was reportedly used in the crime.
Janette Crighton, who runs the shop with her husband Ian, testified that a man matching Campbell's description came into the shop on the morning of February 17, 2024, asking to have the tyres changed.
When asked by prosecutor Greg Farrell why the man wanted the tyres changed, Crighton replied that he claimed the bike belonged to his wife and that she planned to use it in the forest the following weekend.
Crighton noted that the existing tyres were in good condition and suitable for the type of cycling his wife planned to do.
Farrell asked if the man had explained why he wanted the tyres changed, and Crighton replied that he had mentioned his wife's plans.
Crighton stated that she had agreed to replace the tyres as per the man's request.
When asked if the original tyres were worn or damaged, Crighton replied that they were not.
The man had requested slightly wider tyres, which Crighton's husband later fitted.
After the work was completed, the man returned to collect the bike and was given the old tyres, which were considered suitable for the type of cycling his wife planned to do.
During cross-examination, Campbell's lawyer Tony Lenehan KC asked Crighton if the man who visited the shop had given his name as David Campbell, and she confirmed that he had.
The court later heard testimony from Patrick Spicer, a friend of Campbell's who had spent time with him on the day of the alleged murder.
Spicer, a retired oil worker, had known Campbell through their shared interest in bowling.
On the day in question, Spicer and Campbell had worked together on repairing a wooden bridge damaged by Storm Babet.
When asked about Campbell's demeanor that day, Spicer described him as being his usual self.
Spicer stated that Campbell did not appear to be acting out of the ordinary or showing any signs of distress.
According to Spicer, Campbell was someone who valued fairness and adhered to rules, even in casual settings like bowling.
Spicer described Campbell as a person who wanted to win fairly and did not tolerate those who did not play by the rules.
The witness confirmed that Campbell's behavior on the day of the alleged murder was consistent with his normal personality.
Spicer's testimony provided insight into Campbell's character and behavior on the day in question.
The court heard that Campbell's friend had observed no unusual behavior on the part of the accused on the day of the alleged crime.
A resident of Aberfeldy, Campbell is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of Low, with whom he allegedly had a history of animosity.
On the day of the incident, Campbell is said to have tampered with security cameras at a location in Aberfeldy, reportedly in an effort to hide his activities.
Additionally, Campbell is accused of attempting to hinder the investigation by getting rid of a potential murder weapon and an airgun, as well as replacing the tyres on an electric bike between February and May 2024.
Campbell is also charged with unlawfully possessing an air rifle and firing it on multiple occasions, and is facing five counts of breach of the peace, with the earliest incident dating back to July 1995.
It is alleged that Campbell engaged in disorderly conduct, causing fear and alarm among three men and two women.
Campbell's defence team has submitted a special defence of alibi, claiming that he was not present at the scene of the crime at the time of the alleged murder.
According to his lawyers, Campbell was at his home in Aberfeldy, not in Leafy Lane where the body was discovered, when the killing occurred.
Campbell has entered a not guilty plea to all the charges brought against him.
The trial, presided over by Lord Scott, is ongoing.
News
Serie A to air on BBC with live coverage of Scottish matches
A new multi-game rights deal has enabled the BBC to broadcast live coverage of matches featuring several Scotland internationals, including Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Lennon Miller, Kieron Bowie, and Josh Doig, starting this Sunday.
A number of Scottish players, including Che Adams, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lennon Miller, and Lewis Ferguson, are currently competing in Italy's top division, Serie A.
The upcoming Serie A match between Torino and Bologna will be a notable fixture, featuring several Scottish players.
The match is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 15 February, with a kick-off time of 17:00 GMT, at a venue that will be announced.
Fans can catch the live coverage of the match on BBC Alba, starting from 16:50.
A growing list of Scottish players, including Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Lennon Miller, Josh Doig, and Kieron Bowie, are making a name for themselves in Serie A.
With a record number of Scots playing in Italy's top flight, the BBC is now providing live coverage of their matches, allowing fans to follow their favorite players.
As part of a new package, the BBC will broadcast eight live Serie A matches, showcasing the talents of Scottish players as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.
The first match to be broadcast on BBC Alba will be the encounter between Torino, featuring striker Che Adams, and Bologna, featuring midfielder Lewis Ferguson, on Sunday, with a 17:00 GMT kick-off.
Bologna will be looking to bounce back from five consecutive domestic defeats, despite recent impressive results in the Europa League and against Celtic.
During their recent run, Bologna drew 2-2 with Celtic and secured a 3-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League.
Torino, on the other hand, has only managed one win in their last five outings but will be seeking to build on their recent 2-2 draw against Fiorentina.
Scotland's Nations League campaign is set to begin in Slovenia.
Clarke has confirmed that Barnes will not be making a switch to Scotland.
Scotland is scheduled to face Switzerland in the Nations League.
Future BBC Alba broadcasts will feature matches involving Napoli's Scottish duo, Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, who is nearing a return from injury, as well as Lennon Miller's Udinese, Josh Doig's Sassuolo, and Kieron Bowie's Hellas Verona.
The number of Scottish players in Serie A has reached a record high, with the likes of Liam Henderson, who has played for several Italian clubs, now competing in Serie B.
Further details of the Serie A matches to be broadcast on BBC Alba will be announced in the coming weeks.
Margaret Cameron, director of content at BBC Alba, expressed her excitement about the opportunity for Scottish fans to watch their favorite players in action, free-to-air, ahead of the World Cup.
Presenter Alex O'Henley is looking forward to hosting the coverage of what he describes as a "golden era" for Scottish players in Italy.
With the World Cup approaching, O'Henley believes it's an exciting time for Scottish fans to follow the fortunes of their players in Italy.
Kieron Bowie made his debut for Verona against Pisa.
Che Adams, who was born in Leicester, has established himself as a key player for Scotland, earning 45 caps and scoring 11 goals since switching allegiances in 2021.
This season, Adams has scored six goals in 26 appearances for Torino, who currently sit 13th in the Serie A table.
Kieron Bowie, who began his career with Raith Rovers, has risen to prominence with Hibernian, scoring nine goals in 30 appearances before joining Hellas Verona in January.
Bowie made his debut for Verona in a 0-0 draw against Pisa, earning his first start for the club.
Josh Doig, who started his career with Hibernian, has become a regular player in Serie A, first with Verona and now with Sassuolo, earning one cap for Scotland.
Doig has made 24 appearances, including 20 starts, for Sassuolo this season.
Lewis Ferguson, who began his career with Hamilton Academical, has become a key player for Bologna, earning 21 caps for Scotland and leading his team to a Coppa Italia final win over AC Milan.
Ferguson has made 29 appearances, including 21 starts, for Bologna this season, helping the team to eighth place in the table.
Billy Gilmour, who started his career with Rangers, has played for several clubs, including Chelsea and Norwich City, before joining Napoli in 2024, where he won his first league title.
Gilmour has been limited to 12 appearances, including six starts, this season due to injury, but is nearing a return to action.
Scott McTominay, who came through Manchester United's youth ranks, has become a key player for Napoli, earning 67 caps for Scotland and scoring 14 goals, including a notable overhead kick against Denmark.
McTominay has made 34 appearances for Napoli this season, scoring 10 goals and helping the team to a strong position in the table.
Lennon Miller, who began his career with Motherwell, has made a promising start to his career, earning four caps for Scotland and joining Udinese in August.
Miller has made 14 appearances, including six starts, for Udinese this season.
Fans can stay up-to-date with their favorite clubs through BBC Sport.
News
GB men’s curling team suffers upset defeat to Italy
At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Great Britain’s men’s curling team mounted a comeback against Italy following a disappointing beginning, ultimately falling short in their inaugural match.
Despite a valiant comeback, Team GB ultimately fell short as Italy held their composure to secure the win in the final end.
A dismal start to the match proved costly for Team GB's men, as they suffered their first defeat of the Winter Olympics at the hands of host nation Italy, despite a spirited fightback in the packed Cortina Curling Stadium.
Following victories in their first two matches, including a win over the Swedish rink that beat them in the gold-medal match four years ago, Team GB entered their second high-profile encounter in as many days in a confident position.
However, a disastrous opening end, in which Italy stole four points, left Team GB trailing and facing an uphill battle in front of a boisterous home crowd.
The British team, currently ranked number one in the world, gradually regained their footing and managed to level the score by the ninth end.
Ultimately, Italy maintained their composure in the final end to emerge victorious, winning 9-7 and adding Team GB to their list of scalps, which already included the Swedes.
"We had to dig deep and play some solid curling, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get us over the line," Team GB lead Hammy McMillan said in an interview with BBC Sport.
With seven wins from nine round-robin matches guaranteeing a spot in the semi-finals, Team GB remains in a strong position, although fewer wins may still be sufficient to advance.
The women's team is set to take to the ice next, facing South Korea in their second match at 13:05 GMT, while the men will return to action on Saturday against the Czech Republic at the same time.
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A daily guide to the Winter Olympics is available for those looking to stay up-to-date with the action.
The looks of shock on the faces of Team GB's curlers told the story of a disastrous opening end.
With a stone in play, Mouat attempted a risky shot in an effort to claim two points, but it backfired, resulting in none of Team GB's stones in the house and four Italian stones in position.
However, the Scottish quartet, ranked number one in the world, quickly regained their composure and got back to their game.
The teams exchanged singles before a impressive final throw by Mouat, aided by a measurement to determine which stone was closest to the button, allowed Team GB to claim two points and narrow the gap to 5-3.
Another excellent team effort, which included a well-judged throw by Mouat, a solid sweep by Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie, and Grant Hardie's strategic expertise, forced Italy to concede a point in the fourth end, reducing the deficit to a single point at the break.
Italy blanked the sixth end and added two points in the seventh to rebuild their lead, but Team GB fought back with two points of their own, remarkably levelling the score with one end remaining after a steal.
The match came down to the final end, but Italy held their nerve to secure the win, prompting a deafening roar from the crowd.
"It's an incredible experience, and we need to get used to it," McMillan added, describing the electric atmosphere as "surreal" and "cool," more akin to a football match than a typical curling crowd.
News
Scotland Kicks Off Nations League Against Slovenia
Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland set to begin their campaign on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.
Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland's campaign set to begin on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.
The team's six group stage games will be played within a three-month period, culminating in a match against Switzerland on 16 November.
The fixture list was announced following Thursday's draw, which placed Scotland in a group with Switzerland, Slovenia, and North Macedonia.
Having been relegated from League A after a play-off loss to Greece last year, Scotland will compete in the second tier of the Nations League this year.
In response to the draw, head coach Steve Clarke noted that the teams in the group appear to be evenly matched.
Clarke reflected on the team's past experience in the competition, stating that it has been beneficial for Scotland.
He emphasized the importance of the Nations League, citing its role in helping the team qualify for Euro 2020, and anticipated a challenging set of matches.
A key matchup in the Nations League will see Scotland face off against Switzerland.
The group stage will determine the teams' fates, with the winner earning promotion, the runner-up entering a play-off, the third-placed team facing a relegation play-off, and the fourth-placed team being relegated directly.
The upcoming group games will mark a reunion for Scotland and Switzerland, who previously drew 1-1 in Cologne at Euro 2024.
Scotland's last encounter with Slovenia was during the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign, when they won 1-0 at home and drew 2-2 away.
The team has not played North Macedonia since the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, when they drew 1-1 at home and won 2-1 away, with goals from Ikechi Anya and Shaun Maloney.
The schedule for Scotland's Nations League campaign begins on 26 September with a match against Slovenia.
The team will then host Switzerland on 29 September, followed by a trip to face North Macedonia on 3 October.
Scotland will then play Slovenia at home on 6 October, before hosting North Macedonia on 11 November.
The final group stage match will see Scotland travel to face Switzerland on 16 November.
The team's home match against North Macedonia is set for 11 November.
The campaign will conclude with an away match against Switzerland on 16 November.
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