Murder accused watched shooting videos, trial told

John MacKinnon was shot dead at his home on the Isle of Skye

A court has heard that a man accused of murder watched a YouTube video of a ballistic gel model of a human head being shot.

Finlay MacDonald, 41, is alleged to have shot his brother-in-law John MacKinnon, 47, at his home on Skye on 10 August 2022.

On the same day, he is accused of attempting to murder three other people, including his wife.

MacDonald denies all the charges and has lodged a special defence to the murder allegation, claiming he was suffering from abnormality of mind.

Jurors at the High Court in Edinburgh heard how police analysts discovered searches on MacDonald's laptop for Mossberg shotguns for sale.

A receipt for the purchase of five knives was also discovered with a billing address of Finlay MacDonald.

Cybercrime analysts discovered searches were made for "how a pump shotgun works" and "loading and shooting pump action shotgun" on his laptop.

Friend Shane Westerman told the court MacDonald had shown him a video called "Mossberg 410 v ballistic gel human head".

Mr Westerman recalled thinking MacDonald had been "watching too many cowboy films" after telling him he was going to "sort out" an osteopath and go out "in a blaze of glory".

He said MacDonald had sought treatment from Mr MacKenzie, a retired osteopath, but when he came back "did seem a little bit worse than he had been".

He added: "I tried so hard to help him, asking him to go get help numerous times for his mental condition. He would constantly say to myself 'you are lucky, you have got a wife and kids'."

The pair met when Mr Westerman, 58, moved to Skye from Yorkshire in 2020 and met MacDonald who was building a home on nearby land.

MacDonald is accused of murdering his brother-in-law John MacKinnon at his home in the village of Teangue, Skye by repeatedly firing a shotgun at him.

The court previously heard that MacDonald was humiliated and left with low self esteem after Mr MacKinnon assaulted him in 2013.

On the same day, MacDonald is accused of attempting to murder his wife Rowena, 34, at the family home in the village of Tarskavaig on Skye by repeatedly stabbing her on the body.

He is further accused of attempting to murder John MacKenzie and his wife Fay, both 65, at their home in Dornie, Ross-shire by repeatedly discharging a shotgun at them.

MacDonald has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial before judge Lady Drummond continues.