Accused Allegedly Arrived Armed at Sister’s Residence Before Husband’s Death

A court heard testimony from a woman stating that her brother came to her residence armed with a gun and killed her husband. Finlay MacDonald, aged 41, faces charges of murdering John MacKinnon, a father of six, in Teangue on Skye, and of attempting to murder three additional individuals on August 10, 2022. Lyn Anne MacKinnon testified before the High Court in Edinburgh, recounting that she heard sounds resembling gunshots and subsequently discovered her husband standing in the kitchen, prior to him collapsing into her embrace. Mr. MacDonald has pleaded not guilty to all accusations and has presented a special defense against the murder charge, asserting that he was experiencing an abnormality of mind. Mrs. MacKinnon’s testimony was delivered via a pre-recorded session, which was presented to the jury. She recounted that her family had previously enjoyed several days in Glasgow, and she was in the process of unpacking a car on the morning of August 10. She stated that she heard a loud vehicle approach the driveway and park close to the residence, identifying it as belonging to Mr. MacDonald. Mrs. MacKinnon informed the court that she observed her brother ascending the rear steps of the property. She stated: “I could see he was holding a gun at his side.” She continued: “I said: ‘Finlay, what do you think you’re doing?’ “It was four or five steps and he was into the house. “I did four or five steps to the door from the car and I already heard bangs.” Mrs. MacKinnon testified that her brother proceeded past her and returned to the vehicle. She recounted: “I went in to find John still upright but groaning.” She added: “I caught John in my arms. He was collapsing and groaning and I lowered him to the ground.” Prosecutor Liam Ewing KC, an advocate depute, questioned Mrs. MacKinnon regarding her exchange with her brother. She responded: “I just froze and I said ‘Finlay what do you think you are doing?’ as soon as I saw the gun. Three or four steps and he had done it.” When asked about the sounds of bangs, Mrs. MacKinnon stated she initially thought there were two, but subsequently believed there were three shots. She specified that her husband was positioned in front of the kitchen sink. Mrs. MacKinnon became tearful before proceeding with her testimony. She informed Mr. Ewing that her brother had not spoken to her and had moved past her without acknowledging her. When questioned again about her husband, she described his eyes rolling back and stated her belief that he had lost consciousness. The court was informed that the MacKinnons’ children entered the area, and Mrs. MacKinnon requested them to seek assistance. Two general practitioners arrived, but Mrs. MacKinnon stated: “They were trying to tend to the wounds, but there was too much blood.” Paramedics who subsequently arrived at the scene informed Mrs. MacKinnon that her husband could not be saved, the court heard. Previously, Mr. MacDonald’s wife testified in court that her husband had issued threats to kill an osteopath, whom he alleged had ruined his life by exacerbating a back injury. Rowena MacDonald stated that Mr. MacDonald made this threat weeks prior to allegedly shooting and severely injuring the man, John MacKenzie, and his wife, Fay. Mr. MacDonald stands accused of attempting to murder the couple at a residence in Dornie, Wester Ross, and of attempting to murder his wife at their home in Tarskavaig on Skye. Mrs. MacDonald was providing testimony for the second consecutive day, having previously informed the jury that her husband had left her covered in blood following an assault in front of their children, stemming from his suspicion that she was engaged in an affair. She informed the court that Mr. MacDonald, a marine engineer, was on sick leave after sustaining a back injury in the spring of 2022, at which time he consulted osteopath Mr. MacKenzie. She stated that her husband remained “very, very upset” for an extended period thereafter and expressed a desire to sue Mr. MacKenzie, alleging that the treatment had exacerbated his injury. Mrs. MacDonald testified to the court: “He would say I’m going to kill him, I’m going to bloody kill him for ruining my life”. She characterized her husband as “quite a ranty person” and mentioned that at the time, she had dismissed his statements as mere talk. Mrs. MacDonald was also questioned about a physical altercation involving her husband and Mr. MacKinnon in 2013, which occurred nine years prior to the alleged murder. She stated that she was eight months pregnant at the time and was concealed in the bathroom, from which location she could hear a disturbance. She informed the court that upon her husband’s return to the house afterward, he appeared angry and breathless, exhibiting “some sort of facial cut.” Mr. Ewing noted that Mr. MacDonald has been evaluated by psychologists and psychiatrists since August 2022 and has an autism disorder. Defence counsel Donald Findlay KC questioned Mrs. MacDonald regarding her statement that she was unaware of her husband’s autism, to which she responded: “No, not for sure. “I knew there was something different. I didn’t know whether it was depression, anxiety, autism or something different.” Mr. Findlay conveyed to Mrs. MacDonald that her husband believed his back condition had been aggravated by the osteopath. The defence counsel stated: “He could not get away from this fixation that the osteopath caused him permanent damage.” Mrs. MacDonald concurred that her husband had developed a fixation concerning the matter. The proceedings are ongoing.