Police failures to spot murder victim was shot ‘unfathomable’, says ex-deputy FM

Police failures to notice for four days that a murder victim had been shot are “unfathomable”, the former deputy first minister has said.

John Swinney, the Perthshire MSP, said it was “deeply troubling” that evidence could have been lost in the bid to bring to justice the killer of Brian Low, who was shot dead while walking his labrador near Aberfeldy.

Police initially believed that Mr Low, 65, had died naturally when his body was discovered on Feb 17.

It was not until Feb 21 that a medical examiner discovered a gunshot wound and a further two days before it was confirmed as the cause of death and a murder inquiry launched.

Mr Swinney, who served as deputy first minister between 2014 and 2023, has made an unprecedented complaint to Police Scotland about the force’s handling of the case.

“I am deeply concerned about the handling of this investigation by Police Scotland,” Mr Swinney told The Courier.

“It is unfathomable that it was not noticed on [Saturday] Feb 17 that Brian Low had died due to having been shot.

“I cannot understand why a medical examination did not take place immediately and a post-mortem did not take place until the following Friday.”

In a press conference on Thursday, police refused to explain how they had not noticed the gunshot wound and admitted evidence could have been lost because of the delay.

Mr Swinney added: “It is beyond me why it took six days from Mr Low’s death until the post-mortem was carried out.

“Police Scotland has admitted that valuable evidence at the scene could have been lost as a consequence. That is a deeply troubling admission.

“Equally troubling is that it took Police Scotland fully 10 days before the local community was advised a murder had taken place in the area.”

Mr Low’s body was found at around 8.30am, alongside his black labrador, Millie, which was unharmed, in the Pitilie area near Aberfeldy.

Police have said they are keeping an “open mind” about motives and that they do not believe the former groundsman at the Edradynate sporting estate was involved in any criminality.

Jacqui Low, Mr Low’s niece, said: “We are at a complete loss as to how this has happened to Brian. His partner and brothers are devastated and appeal to anyone who has any information to come forward.

“His devoted dog, Millie, stayed by his side for as long as she was allowed and is being cared for by his immediate family.”

Asked how the gunshot wound was missed, Det Ch Insp Martin Macdougall, of Police Scotland’s major investigation team, said: “The circumstances as they presented to the officers at the time didn’t indicate there was any suspicion.”