Murder Defendant Alleges Humiliation by Brother-in-Law, His Accused Victim

A man currently on trial for murder has asserted that his difficulties commenced when his brother-in-law, who is the alleged victim, assaulted him. The High Court in Edinburgh heard testimony indicating that Finlay MacDonald stated he felt humiliated and experienced diminished self-esteem after John MacKinnon attacked him in 2013. Mr. MacDonald is accused of fatally shooting Mr. MacKinnon, a 47-year-old father of six, at Mr. MacKinnon’s residence on Skye on August 10, 2022. On the same date, he faces charges of attempting to murder three other individuals, including his wife. Mr. MacDonald denies all charges and has presented a special defense to the murder allegation, claiming he was suffering from an abnormality of mind. The court was informed that Mr. MacDonald told a psychiatrist that Mr. MacKinnon assaulted him, and that his father had to intervene. He reportedly conveyed to Dr. Suraj Shenoy: “That was the start of all of this.” “Something happened in my mind that day.” “The beginning of all my problems was John MacKinnon attacking me in 2013.” The psychiatrist stated that Mr. MacDonald informed him he attempted to avoid any contact with Mr. MacKinnon. Dr. Shenoy concluded that Mr. MacDonald was affected by autism spectrum disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder at the time of the alleged murder. He also noted underlying conditions of depression with anxiety, and paranoid and dependent personality disorder. Finlay MacDonald, 41, denies murdering distillery worker Mr. MacKinnon at his home in Teangue by discharging a shotgun at him. He also denies attempting to murder his wife, Rowena MacDonald, 34, at her home in Tarskavaig by struggling with her and repeatedly stabbing her with a knife. Furthermore, he has denied attempting to murder retired osteopath John MacKenzie and his wife Fay, both 65, at their home in Dornie, Wester Ross, by firing a gun at them. Earlier in the trial, Rowena MacDonald provided evidence, telling the jury that her husband had attacked her in front of their children, leaving her drenched in blood, as he suspected she was having an affair. Defence counsel Donald Findlay KC questioned her about several text messages she had exchanged with her boss, asking how many she would describe as “flirty.” Mrs. MacDonald responded with “a handful,” later stating: “We were friends – are you not friends with anyone you work with?” Mr. Findlay had suggested to Mrs. MacDonald that if a boss sent such messages to employees, it could be considered sexual harassment. On Tuesday, the court heard that Mr. MacDonald told Dr. Sujay: “I depended on my ex-wife to make all the decisions at home, but she let me down.” In his defense, Mr. Findlay remarked: “The triggering event seems to have been his wife’s betrayal as he saw it.” The psychiatrist affirmed: “As he saw it.” The trial, presided over by judge Lady Drummond, is ongoing.