A retired head gamekeeper has denied poisoning crops on his millionaire former employer’s estate.
David Campbell, 69, is on trial accused of damaging the plants at Edradynate Estate by spraying them with an unknown substance, between April 14 and 16, causing them to rot.
On the first day of trial at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday, estate owner Michael Campbell MBE said he and his family were “extremely close” to Campbell, who lived and worked on the Pitlochry estate for more than 30 years, before the relationship deteriorated.
Campbell retired by “mutual agreement” in February last year, two months after the alleged incident, following a series of arguments between the pair.
During evidence Mr Campbell, 76, said the accused had “almost total power” of the game shooting business on the 4,000-acre estate while he was employed.
“We were extremely close, we were good friends,” he said.
“David is godfather to one of our grandchildren. We were on hugging and kissing terms and the relationship lasted for a very long time.
“Unfortunately, it did change. Issues started arising when I became critical and David does not take criticism, especially if it relates to something he is responsible for.
“The respect that I think he did hold for me at one time disappeared almost entirely.”
Mr Campbell said the ruined crops, which would have been used to feed game birds in preparation for shoots, had to be replanted but he did not know how much the damage had cost overall.
Photos taken by an outdoor camera on April 14 and 16 show someone in a white boiler suit and what Mr Campbell believed to be a knapsack sprayer.
He said: “It looks like David.
“I can’t see his face but he has the same stance and the same slight stoop. I’ve known him for 35 years, it’s David to a tee.”
Mr Campbell added that the accused had taken to wearing a white suit and blue surgical gloves during his final weeks of employment at the estate.
However, defence solicitor David Holmes said Campbell denies this.
He added: “The images are somewhat indistinct. Could you be wrong about who it is?”
The landowner admitted it might not be Campbell in the pictures.
The trial was adjourned until January 22.
