The award-winning BBC documentary series Murder Trial returns later this year featuring two new high-profile Scottish cases. Two episodes, entitled Death of a Dog Walker, focus on groundsman Brian Low, who was tragically killed in February 2024 in Aberfeldy. Brian was murdered while walking his dog along a remote rural path in Highland Perthshire. Although his death was initially considered non-suspicious, a murder inquiry was launched after shotgun pellets were found by the pathologist in Brian's body bag. His former colleague David Campbell, an ex-gamekeeper, now faces accusations of shooting Brian following the disabling of a CCTV camera at his nearby home.
Death of a Dog Walker
A synopsis for the two 60-minute episodes states: "Campbell, who was described by people who knew him as a Jekyll and Hyde character, is accused of trying to cover his tracks after murdering Brian, whom he held a grudge against. But, in a case which is built almost entirely from circumstantial evidence, will the jury find him innocent or guilty?"
Culpable Homicide: A Landmark Case
In addition, a further two episodes examine the death of 28-year-old Kimberly Bruce, who plunged to her death from a motorway bridge in Dundee in July 2023. Entitled Culpable Homicide, the BBC documentary delves into the landmark legal case as Kimberly's husband, Lee, faces trial on charges of culpable homicide and domestic abuse, marking the first prosecution of its kind in Scotland. A synopsis states: "Prosecutors say that the 28-year-old had suffered significant domestic violence at the hands of her husband in the 18 months prior to her death. But as the defence draw on complex aspects of Kimberly's personal life in order to defend Milne, will the jury find him guilty beyond reasonable doubt and in doing so, make UK legal history?"
Unprecedented Access
With extraordinary access to the Scottish courts, the police investigators and the victim's families, Murder Trial features interviews with prosecution and defence teams, taking viewers inside these two high-profile cases. BBC Scotland's Head of Commissioning, Louise Thornton, commented: "Murder Trial continues to provide the audience with exceptional access to Scotland's courts and justice system. These two new cases are a compelling watch of the level audiences have come to expect from this award winning series."
Alongside the cases being shown on BBC Scotland, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, a fresh 10-part podcast series, Inside The Murder Trial has been given the green light, with both productions made by Firecrest Films. Executive Producer at Firecrest Films, Vari Innes, remarked: "We are proud to be returning to the BBC and the High Courts with these two exceptional cases. Filmed over several years, Death of a Dog Walker features unprecedented access - from day one of the murder investigation through to verdict at Glasgow High Court. Woman on the Bridge charts a landmark case, highlighting vital conversations around domestic abuse and culpability. It has been an enormous privilege to be side by side with both Brian's family and Kimberly's family through these acutely difficult times, and we are extremely grateful to them for allowing us to show their dedicated journey to seek justice for their loved ones." Murder Trial will return later this year.
