Man to stand trial over Aberfeldy dog walker murder

A 76-year-old man will stand trial next year accused of murdering a dog walker in Perthshire.

Prosecutors allege David Campbell shot 65-year-old Brian Low near Aberfeldy on 16 February last year.

Mr Low’s death was initially thought to be “medical-related”, but a later examination revealed that the retired groundsman had been shot.

Mr Campbell’s lawyer Tony Lenehan KC entered a not guilty plea to a total of eight charges during a virtual hearing at the High Court In Glasgow.

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

Prosecutors allege he disabled CCTV cameras at an address in Aberfeldy on the same date, 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 last year.

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

Judge Lady Drummond set a trial date of February next year at the High Court in Glasgow, with an intermediate hearing in August in Edinburgh.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.

The body of Mr Low was discovered in the Pitillie area on the outskirts of Aberfeldy, three days before he would have turned 66.

His death certificate, seen by BBC Scotland News, confirmed he died of a shotgun wound to the neck and chest.