The CCTV system at the home of an ex-head gamekeeper accused of murdering a man with a shotgun went off on the morning of the alleged crime, a court has heard.
Jurors at the trial of David Campbell, 77, were also shown footage which twice showed him placing duct tape over a doorbell camera at his home on the day of the alleged murder.
Prosecutors are claiming Campbell gunned down former colleague Brian Low, 65, on a remote track near Aberfeldy, Perthshire, on 16 February 2024.
Campbell has pleaded not guilty to eight charges, and has lodged a special defence of alibi in connection with the murder accusation – claiming he was at home at the time of the alleged shooting.
Both men had worked at Edradynate Estate, where Campbell was head gamekeeper between May 1984 and February 2018 and Mr Low was a groundsman between August 2000 and February 2023.
On Monday, the High Court in Glasgow heard from Detective Constable David Gardiner, who was CCTV officer in the case.
Jurors were shown footage taken from the CCTV camera at Campbell’s home showing his vehicle driving away from the property at about 7.11am on 16 February 2024.
‘Useful idiot’ who firebombed Edinburgh businesses in gangland feud jailed
One of Scotland’s last D-Day veterans dies aged 100
Alleged killer thought murder victim was trying to set him up, court told
He was then seen parking near and walking towards an owned property in Aberfeldy’s Dunkeld Street, then coming back towards his vehicle at 7.31am apparently carrying a bag which he placed in the motor.
Prosecutor Greg Farrell asked DC Gardiner what the suspect was carrying, to which the officer replied: “It appears to be a bag, potentially a long, thinnish bag.”
The court was shown footage of Campbell’s car returning to his home at 7.35am and of him walking towards his house.
DC Gardiner agreed with the prosecutor that Campbell appeared to look directly at the CCTV camera.
Mr Farrell asked: “From your understanding is there any CCTV footage captured after 10.09am on 16 February?”
DC Gardiner replied: “Not from that CCTV hard drive.”
Read more from the trial:
Man accused of shotgun murder ‘loathed victim’
Alleged killer thought murder victim was trying to ‘set him up’
Follow our channel and never miss an update
The officer said it was his understanding that the CCTV system went off at 10.09am.
Jurors were also shown footage of Campbell approaching the doorbell camera and placing duct tape over it at 7.35am.
The court heard that the tape had been removed by 10.13am, but jurors were shown footage of Campbell approaching it with more duct tape at 11.10am.
Mr Farrell said: “So, the doorbell camera is covered by the accused at 11.10am and we don’t have any more footage from that till about 7.30pm?” to which DC Gardiner agreed.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
The court was also shown CCTV footage of a cyclist with a bag on his back heading out of Aberfeldy at about 4.12pm on 16 February.
DC Gardiner said the bike had similarities to one belonging to Campbell’s wife, which the court was previously shown an image of.
He also said the clothing worn by the cyclist appeared to be similar to what Campbell was wearing earlier in the day.
Mr Farrell said the cyclist was seen on CCTV at 4.18pm but that the cyclist, if it is the same person, is then not captured on CCTV until 5.01pm.
The prosecutor pointed out that activity on Mr Low’s phone stopped about half an hour after the cyclist disappeared from view.
He said: “So, that’s between 4.18pm and 5.01pm that cyclist is out of sight. The jury know that all activity on Brian Low’s phone stopped at 4.52pm.”
CCTV captured on 17 February appeared to show Campbell leaving his house and waving to the camera at about 8.07am.
Jurors were then shown footage which showed his car driving out of Aberfeldy and returning to his home at about 9.10am.
The court was also shown doorbell footage from about 11.31am on the same day which showed a utility area in Campbell’s house, where a box with a black and white design was seen.
DC Gardiner told the court: “It was found to be a box that was made for shipping shotgun cartridges.”
Scotland reporter
The alleged murder of Brian Low is said to have taken place in Leafy Lane, Aberfeldy, near to the Pitilie track, on 16 February 2024.
Mr Low’s body was first discovered on 17 February 2024, with a paramedic pronouncing him dead at 9am.
David Campbell is accused of previously showing “malice and ill-will” towards Mr Low, and is alleged to have discharged a shotgun at him, leaving him so severely hurt that he died at the scene.
Prosecutors allege he earlier disabled CCTV cameras at Tigh Na Caorann in Aberfeldy’s Crieff Road in an attempt to conceal his whereabouts.
He is further accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice between 16 February and 24 May 2024 by disposing of the alleged murder weapon and gun bag; disposing of a Walther Rotex RM8 airgun; having replacement tyres fitted on an electric bike reportedly used during the alleged shooting; and dumping a box, a cartridge bag and bicycle tyres at Aberfeldy Recycling Centre or elsewhere.
Campbell additionally faces five separate breach of the peace charges spanning between July 1995 and September 2012.
He is said to have acted in a disorderly manner, putting three men and two women in a “state of fear and alarm”.
Campbell is further accused of possessing a Walther Rotex RM8 airgun between May 2017 and February 2024 without the relevant certificate, and discharging it on various occasions.
The trial, before Lord Scott, continues.
