Conviction Upheld for Aberfeldy Murder
A man sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a former colleague in Perthshire has failed in his attempt to overturn the conviction.
David Campbell, aged 77, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 19 years in February after being found guilty of killing Brian Low on Leafy Lane, Aberfeldy, in 2024.
Investigation and Trial Details
Initially, police considered Low's death to be "non-suspicious" until a forensic examination conducted several days later revealed that the 65-year-old retired groundsman had been shot.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service reported that Campbell's appeal was refused at the second sift stage, a legal procedure where a senior judge or sheriff determines whether to grant permission for an appeal to proceed.
Campbell, a former gamekeeper, was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow following a 15-day trial. The jury reached a non-unanimous verdict after three days of deliberations.
Judicial Remarks
During sentencing, Judge Lord Scott described Campbell's actions as a "targeted assassination" and characterized the crime as "an appalling and senseless act of extreme wickedness."
"targeted assassination" had been "an appalling and senseless act of extreme wickedness"
The judge also noted that "serious errors" made during the early stages of the police investigation may have contributed to Campbell's belief that he had "got away with murder."
"serious errors" in the early stages of the police inquiry may have led Campbell to believe "you thought you got away with murder"
