Orkney murder: Man jailed for life for murdering love rival

A MAN who murdered his former lover's new partner and dumped his body in sand dunes on the island of Orkney has been jailed for life.

• (From left to right) John Campbell, Bob Rose and Stephen Crummack

John Campbell, 59, was told he must spend at least 16 years behind bars

for the murder of Robert Rose on Sanday in June last year

He had previously been found guilty of murdering the Yorkshireman, who began a relationship with Campbell's former flame after moving to the island for a "fresh start".

Co-accused Stephen Crummack, 51, was found guilty of culpable homicide for helping Campbell carry out the murder.

The body of 54-year-old Mr Rose, from Rotherham, was found in sand dunes after a two-week police hunt.

A trial at the High Court in Glasgow heard that the former construction worker had started seeing Campbell's ex-partner Margaret Johnston, 34.

Both were also convicted of defeating the ends of justice by concealing Mr Rose's body and driving his car to Loth Pier to make it look as though he had left the island on a ferry.

Lord Turnbull told Campbell: "You have been convicted of his murder, motivated it seems by your dislike of him and your reaction to his involvement with your former partner."

He said Campbell had lied to police and Mr Rose was a "kind and likeable" man who was "entirely harmless".

Campbell was sentenced to life in prison and told he must serve at least 16 years before being considered for parole.

Crummack was jailed for 11 years in total – 10 years for the culpable homicide and an additional year for the second charge.

Addressing Campbell, Lord Turnbull said: "Having heard all of the evidence at the trial, it was perfectly obvious that you lied to the police when they interviewed you.

"You had, by then, gone to considerable efforts to ensure that Mr

Rose's body would not be discovered.

"There was, in the end of the day, something rather appropriate about the fact that, despite all of your efforts to hide your involvement, you were undone by your own inability to resist boasting about your conduct to a fellow inmate, no doubt in the expectation that he would be impressed."

He added: "Having heard the evidence, it was as obvious to me as it was in the end to the jury that you were responsible for Mr Rose's murder."

Campbell was also sentenced to three years in prison for defeating the ends of justice, which would be concurrent to his minimum term.

Turning to Crummack, Lord Turnbull said: "You have also been found responsible for the killing of Mr Rose but not to the same extent as your co-accused.

"It's right in your case that I should acknowledge that your conscience did come to lead you to assist the police in a significant way.

"It is also right to acknowledge that, had you not done so, it is not possible to know how the police inquiry would have turned out.

"Nevertheless, you participated in Mr Rose's killing and must now take the consequences of that."

Mr Rose's two sons and his daughter were in court today. The three made no comment as they left the court.