PIECES OF THE

TWISTED David Campbell thought he had executed the perfect crime.

- BY MARK McGIVERN

In the days after he blasted Brian Low to death with a shotgun in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, in February 2024, cops initially declared the death was not suspicious, despite evidence of a shotgun blast on his face and chest.

But as the days went by, former Edradynate Estate gamekeeper Campbell's evil plot unravelled, as each component in his cover-up operation was revealed to be flawed.

No single error may have been enough to bring him to justice.

But in an age where a criminal's digital footprint is hard to conceal, Campbell's conduct at the time of the crime exposed him.

When put together, his actions pointed to the fact Campbell, then aged 75, was the killer who struck at Leafy Lane, near the Pitilie Track.

Campbell, 77, is now set to spend the rest of his life behind bars after a jury at the High Court in Glasgow saw through his lies.

They could see he had harboured a grudge - a “festering grievance” over several years, borne out of rivalries and recriminations between him and his coworker.

And they could see he had been hellbent on revenge.

He nurtured his hatred for years after he was sacked in 2018 for which he blamed his victim.

He also blamed Brian for planting evidence at his home ahead of reports being made to police and RSPB investigators about wildlife crimes.

In that time, he obsessed over killing his nemesis and hatched a plot.

But the murderous schemer was not as smart as he believed himself to be.

And here, the Daily Record details the eight key blunders that led to his downfall.

1. MOTIVE

Bitter and violent Campbell was the only person in the world who had motive to kill 65-year-old Brian.

He was also a very good shot and had, on several occasions, been accused of threatening to shoot people who crossed him.