Doctor Tamara McNamee, 40, gave evidence on Monday at the trial of 77-year-old David Campbell.
The death of a man allegedly murdered by a former gamekeeper was not treated as suspicious until an autopsy was carried out.
Doctor Tamara McNamee, 40, gave evidence on Monday at the trial of 77-year-old David Campbell. He is accused of murdering Mr Low, 65, at the Leafy Lane near to the Pitilie Track close to Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross on February 16 2024.
Campbell denies the allegation and has lodged a special defence of alibi.
Consultant histopathologist Dr McNamee was tasked with doing a single doctor autopsy on ex-groundsman Brian Low.
Dr McNamee told the High Court in Glasgow that when she received the body, a report said it was a non suspicious death.
She told the court she escalated the matter after she opened the body bag and saw a shotgun pellet inside the bag beside his remains.
The court heard that Mr Low was pronounced dead at 9am on February 17 2024.
Prosecutor Greg Farrell asked Dr McNamee if the initial report into Mr Low’s death was a non-suspicious death.
She replied: “Yes.”
The doctor went on to explain that she was to carry out a single doctor autopsy on Mr Low’s body as a result of the report.
The witness said: “On initially opening the body bag I saw a shot in the bag beside his remains and a few injuries to his face.
“I realised it wasn’t a non-suspicious death and it was not a medical death.”
Mr Farrell: “Because of that, you escalated it?”
Dr McNamee: “Yes.”
This resulted in a two-doctor autopsy of Mr Low’s body.
Jurors heard that Mr Low suffered injuries to his chest, right upper arm, left upper arm, neck and face.
His cause of death was stated to be “shotgun wound to neck and chest.”
The witness further stated that Mr Low had shotgun pellets in his right lung which resulted in bruising.
Mr Low was also claimed to have swallowed a blood clot from his nose or mouth.
The witness further stated that Mr Low would have died within seconds and minutes from a gun shot wound to his neck and chest.
When asked about how quick the death could have occurred, Dr McNamee said: “I never like to comment about how quick a death has occurred it can vary.”
Mr Farrell: “It’s not instantaneous but death would result from this shotgun blast in seconds or minutes?”
Dr McNamee: “Yes.”
The doctor later stated that Mr Low was “face on” when he was shot.
When asked by Mr Farrell if there were several shotgun injuries, Dr McNamee replied: “That’s fair.”
In cross examination, Campbell’s KC Tony Lenehan put it to Dr McNamee that times of death are “nothing like on TV?”
The witness replied: “Yes.”
Dr McNamee stated that times of death were better determined by witnesses, social media and banking activity.
Jurors were told that at 4.52pm on February 16, Mr Low’s phone activity had stopped.
Detective constable David Budd earlier stated that Campbell was arrested for the matter while he was using the toilet.
The jury heard that police officers had cameras on them at that time.
Mr Lenehan further stated that a film crew who were following proceedings were also at the property but were not allowed entry.
DC Budd stated that “things became fraught” during the interview process.
The trial, before Lord Scott, continues.
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