A MAN from Orkney who had a relationship with a neighbour’s former girlfriend was murdered by his jealous love rival, a court has found.
Robert Rose, 54, died after he was beaten and smothered at his home on Sanday in Orkney.
Father-of-three Bob Rose had begun a relationship with Margaret Johnston – John Campbell’s ex-partner – shortly before he was killed.
After the verdict, Ms Johnston described Campbell, as “abusive” and “manipulative”.
After a month-long trial at the High Court in Glasgow, a jury took six hours to find Campbell, 59, Telegraph Cottage, Sanday, guilty of murder.
Campbell’s friend, Stephen Crummack, 51, who lived in a caravan near Braehowar on Sanday, was found guilty of culpable homicide.
Ms Johnston claimed Campbell also known as Jack – had told her as he was driving past Mr Rose’s house: “You won’t see him again.”
Of Mr Rose, she said: “I have never had the chance to tell Bob’s family what a truly wonderful, kind man he was. I will really miss him.”
Campbell and Crummack were also found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by burying Mr Rose’s body in sand dunes and driving his car to Orkney’s Loth Pier to make it look as if had left the island on a ferry.
They had both denied murdering Mr Rose at his home on June 6 or 7 and stealing his wallet and cash.
Lord Turnbull told Campbell: “The only disposal open to me is a life sentence. That is the sentence I will impose in due course, but I must identify the punishment part which you must serve before being entitled to apply for parole.”
Lord Turnbull told both men they will be sentenced at the end of the month.