The family of murdered groundsman Brian Low have described the “hell” they endured during the two-year wait for the trial of David Campbell, who was convicted of his murder. A new BBC documentary reveals how police initially missed that Low had been shot, and the family's fears they would never get justice.
Police Blunder Delays Investigation
Campbell, 77, was accused of murdering his former colleague seven years after a work fallout that Campbell believed cost him his job. The documentary shows how the initial police investigation was botched, with the crime scene not sealed off until six days after Low's body was found.
An unidentified detective constable admitted in court that he missed the 30 shotgun pellet injuries to Low's neck and chest, thinking it was a “medical event” or a fall. This left police without initial forensic evidence linking Campbell to the scene.
Family's Ordeal
Pam Curran, Low's partner of 22 years, said: “I couldn't get my head around why somebody would want to murder Brian - I don't think he had a bad bone in his body.” She added: “I've gone two years through hell waiting on this day. You're telling yourself It's going to be guilty, but until you hear the words, you just don't know.”
Low's brother Douglas said he was “so angry and so sad” at the graphic photographs shown in court. He also expressed guilt over a promise to his dying father to look after Brian, saying: “Obviously I didn't do a very good job of that.”
Building the Case
Despite the initial failings, Police Scotland built a circumstantial case against Campbell. They showed he had turned off CCTV and taped up his doorbell camera on the day of the murder to support his alibi. Soil samples linked his wife's e-bike to the lane where Low's body was found, and he had changed the tyres afterwards.
Witnesses testified that Campbell regularly made threats of violence and had spoken of how he “loathed” Low. The fallout between the men occurred after Campbell was investigated for poisoning birds of prey, which Low had reportedly disapproved of.
Trial and Conviction
During the trial, Pam Curran realised her own account of speaking to Brian on the night of the murder was undermining the prosecution's case, which held that he died on the Friday afternoon. She told the court that grief and shock had led to her mistakes.
Campbell's wife Betty also testified but failed to help his case, with Curran saying: “I think she actually did more harm than good in the end.” Defence lawyer Tony Lenehen's tactic to show Campbell had made threats without following through appeared to backfire.
Judge Lord Scott branded the crime an “appalling and senseless act of extreme wickedness” as he convicted Campbell of murdering an “unarmed and defenceless man”. The jury deliberated for three days before delivering their verdict.
Prosecution lawyer Greg Farrell said: “You think about the next of kin. You think about the deceased, and you want to do your best for them.”
Murder Trial: Death of a Dog Walker airs on BBC2 on 12th August at 9pm, and on BBC Scotland and iPlayer on 11th August at 9pm.
