The BBC documentary "Murder Trial: Death Of A Dog Walker" has brought to light critical errors made by Police Scotland in their investigation into the 2024 murder of Brian Low, a 65-year-old man found dead in rural Perthshire. Unlike typical true crime documentaries where footage is often edited to present law enforcement favorably, this program reportedly included unvarnished courtroom proceedings that exposed police shortcomings.
In February 2024, officers responded to a 999 call and found Low deceased in a field. The scene was initially misclassified as a "medical episode" by a detective constable, despite the victim's face being severely bloodied. The gravity of the discovery was such that a photograph of the victim's injuries had to be blurred for broadcast, with Low's brother describing the sight as "horrific."
Further complicating the initial response, shotgun pellets were discovered when the body was examined in the mortuary, indicating the cause of death was a shotgun wound. Compounding the investigative challenges, Low's partner, Pam Curran, initially provided police with a mistaken timeline due to grief-induced memory confusion. She believed she had seen Low after returning from a long shift at her care home job, suggesting to investigators that he might have been murdered the following morning. It was weeks later that she corrected her statement, realizing Brian had been killed before she arrived home.
These missteps had significant consequences for the investigation. The remote location where Low was found was not initially preserved as a crime scene, and detectives were working under the assumption of an incorrect date for the murder, leading them to check alibis for the wrong day. This information proved advantageous for the defense.
The documentary focuses on the trial of David Campbell, a retired gamekeeper who was the chief suspect. Campbell's demeanor in court, characterized by eye-rolling, smirking, and direct confrontations with the prosecutor, was noted by the review. While Scottish law permits trial filming, the production reportedly used editing techniques to create a dramatic and tense viewing experience, capturing the proceedings in a way that went beyond standard CCTV footage.
