Skye shooting suspect claims attack on him by brother-in-law was ‘start of problems’

A man accused of murdering his brother-in-law claimed that an attack on him by the alleged victim nine years earlier was the beginning of all his problems. Finlay MacDonald said he was humiliated and left with low self-esteem after John MacKinnon assaulted him in 2013, and his father had to intervene to stop him from being harmed. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that MacDonald told a psychiatrist that the incident in 2013 triggered something in his mind that led to his current situation. He stated, “The beginning of all my problems was John MacKinnon attacking me in 2013.” MacDonald disclosed to Dr. Suraj Shenoy that he had been trying to avoid any contact with his brother-in-law since the incident.

The psychiatrist further revealed that MacDonald was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression with anxiety, paranoid, and dependent personality disorder at the time of the alleged murder on August 10, 2022. MacDonald, aged 41, denied the murder of distillery worker Mr. MacKinnon by shooting him at his home in Teangue on the Isle of Skye. He has claimed a special defense, stating that his ability to determine and control his conduct was substantially impaired by abnormality of mind during the incident. Additionally, MacDonald denied attempting to murder his wife Rowena, 34, at her home in the village of Tarskavaig on the same day by struggling with her and stabbing her with a knife, as well as attempting to murder John MacKenzie and Fay, both 65, by discharging a shotgun at them at their home in Dornie, Ross-shire.

MacDonald mentioned to Dr. Sujay that he relied on his ex-wife to make decisions at home, but felt let down by her. His defense counsel, Donald Findlay KC, indicated that the triggering event for MacDonald seemed to be his wife’s perceived betrayal. The psychiatrist highlighted the impact of this event on MacDonald during the trial. The case is ongoing before judge Lady Drummond as the court seeks to unravel the complex circumstances surrounding the incidents on the Isle of Skye and in the Dornie area of Wester Ross.

In summary, this article reports on the trial of Finlay MacDonald, who is accused of murdering his brother-in-law and attempting to harm others. MacDonald attributed his actions to a previous attack by the victim, highlighting the psychological toll it took on him. The testimony provided by a psychiatrist shed light on MacDonald’s mental health issues, including autism spectrum disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. The trial continues as the court considers the impact of these factors on the alleged crimes.