Former Gamekeeper Murders Ex-Colleague in Calculated Highland Ambush
77-year-old David Campbell hunted down Brian Low 'like quarry' on remote Scottish path, exposing workplace grudges turned deadly
A decades-long workplace grievance erupted into calculated murder when a former head gamekeeper ambushed and killed his ex-colleague with a shotgun on a remote Highland path, revealing how professional resentments can fester into deadly violence.
David Campbell, 77, was sentenced to at least 19 years in prison for murdering Brian Low, 65, in what prosecutors described as hunting his victim down "like quarry." The killing occurred on February 16, 2024, at Leafy Lane near Pitilie, where Low was walking his dog when Campbell struck.
The premeditated nature of the attack underscores the chilling transformation of workplace animosity into lethal violence. Campbell had deliberately disabled CCTV cameras at his Aberfeldy home before carrying out the assault, demonstrating careful planning to conceal his movements and evade detection.
Both men had worked at Edradynate Estate, where their professional relationship had deteriorated into what the court heard was a "festering grievance." Campbell served as head gamekeeper from May 1984 to February 2018, while Low worked as a groundsman from August 2000 to February 2023. The BBC reported that Campbell was described as having a 'Jekyll and Hyde' personality, suggesting a volatile character capable of extreme behavior.
The brutality of the attack shocked investigators. Low suffered approximately 30 injuries from shotgun pellets, indicating the close-range and vicious nature of the assault. His body was discovered by a local resident the following morning at 8:30 AM, nearly 16 hours after the 4:52 PM attack.
Perhaps most disturbing was how close this calculated murder came to being overlooked entirely. Police initially almost ruled the death non-suspicious, highlighting how remote location crimes can challenge law enforcement and potentially allow perpetrators to escape justice.
The case reveals the dangerous potential of unresolved workplace conflicts, particularly in isolated rural environments where grievances can simmer for years without intervention. Campbell's belief that Low had planted evidence to frame him for illegal bird poisoning had apparently consumed him, transforming professional disagreement into murderous rage.
After nearly three weeks of trial proceedings, a jury at Glasgow's High Court delivered a majority guilty verdict following more than two days of deliberations. Campbell showed no reaction as his fate was sealed, displaying the same cold demeanor that enabled him to plan and execute such a calculated killing.
This tragic case demonstrates how workplace tensions, when left to fester in isolated environments, can escalate beyond all reasonable bounds, ultimately destroying multiple lives and shattering rural community trust.
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