The BBC has added a two-part documentary to iPlayer that follows the murder trial arising from the death of 65-year-old dog walker Brian Low, whose body was discovered in rural Perthshire in February 2024. The programme takes viewers inside the Scottish High Courts as lawyers from both sides present evidence and make their case to a jury.
Case brought before Scottish High Courts
The series, titled Murder Trial: The Death of a Dog Walker, charts the proceedings against David Campbell, who is accused of killing Mr Low. It is being made available on BBC iPlayer and will also be broadcast on BBC Two, with episodes beginning on 12 August 2026.
Production company Firecrest Films and the BBC say the documentary shows the trial from the opening of the prosecution’s case through to the final arguments, giving an uncommon view of legal tactics and courtroom presentation in Scotland’s senior courts. The programme highlights the difficulties the prosecution faces in a matter described as having "no witnesses, no forensics linking a suspect to the deceased" and the reliance on witness testimony.
"With both sides also relying on vital witness testimony from fellow estate workers and neighbours, the trial will paint for the jury a picture of a small community ripped apart by old grudges and secrets surfacing in the wake of a killing."
What is known about the death
According to the documentary’s synopsis and reporting, Mr Low was employed as a groundsman at the Edradynate Estate in Perthshire. He was found dead by another dog walker on a winter morning in an area referred to locally as "Leafy Lane". At first, police treated the death as not suspicious, considering the possibility of a fall or a medical incident. That initial assessment later changed as the investigation continued.
The programme promises to examine how both the prosecution and defence reconstruct events, and how testimony from neighbours and co-workers is used to build competing narratives. Producers say the proceedings reveal the strain on a small community as long-standing tensions and secrets emerge during the trial.
Legal and public interest implications
The documentary raises broader questions about access to courtrooms, the presentation of evidence to jurors and public appetite for filmed legal proceedings. While television access to court coverage in the UK remains limited compared with some jurisdictions, carefully produced observational films such as this aim to demystify how serious criminal cases are presented and decided.
Other points of interest for viewers and observers include:
- Procedure: the programme follows both prosecution and defence strategies across the trial timeline.
- Evidence: the case, as presented in the film, does not rely on forensic links between the accused and the deceased.
- Community impact: witness testimony from local residents and estate workers is shown to play a central role.
| Key detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Victim | Brian Low, aged 65 |
| Discovery | Found in rural Perthshire, February 2024 |
| Accused | David Campbell |
| Programme release | BBC iPlayer and BBC Two, episodes from 12 August 2026 |
The filmmakers and the broadcaster emphasise that the documentary depicts the judicial process in real time and does not pre-empt the jury’s determination. Coverage of ongoing trials must be careful not to affect legal proceedings, and reporting restrictions can apply in some cases. The film is likely to renew public attention on both the facts of Mr Low’s death and on how serious criminal cases are handled in Scotland.
Viewers will be able to watch the two new episodes on iPlayer immediately and catch weekly airings on BBC Two from the stated broadcast date.
