Skye killed the brother-in-law during the shootout.

A man who went on a shooting spree in the Scottish Highlands has been jailed for at least 28 years for killing his brother-in-law and attempting to kill his wife and two others.

Finlay Macdonald, 41, stabbed his wife Rowena repeatedly at their home on the Isle of Skye before driving 10 miles to another village, where he shot dead his brother-in-law John MacKinnon. Killed.

The marine engineer then traveled another 40 miles before shooting Faye Mackenzie and her husband John at their home on Scottish soil.

Despite his injuries, McKenzie fought back and disarmed MacDonald before he was tackled by police.

Father-of-four MacDonald denied all allegations and claimed he was suffering from an abnormal state of mind at the time.

But he was convicted by a jury at Edinburgh’s High Court, which deliberated for just over two hours.

McDonald was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to serve a minimum of 28 years before applying for parole.

Judge Lady Drummond told Macdonald he was guilty of “a series of brutal and mentally violent attacks”.

The attacks took place over a period of about an hour, just before 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday 10 August 2022, the last day of the school summer holidays. Started in days.

The first was at the MacDonalds’ family home in Tarskavaig on the Sleat Peninsula, an area south of Skye that is home to around 750 people.

MacDonald had a volatile relationship with his wife and suspected her of having an affair.

The court heard he was disturbed by text messages between Mrs McDonald, 34, and her boss.

The pair argued over her phone, before McDonald pulled a knife from his pocket and began stabbing her.

Her four young children heard her screams and came to the kitchen door. MacDonald continued the attack as his wife tried to get out of the house but the back door was locked.

He Told the court She remembered her phone calling to sound the alarm, and that her children were with her as she grew weaker and weaker.

Mrs. Macdonald heard her husband drive several times in his car before getting out of the car.

The court later heard that he “Enough ammunition to start a small war”.

He then went to the home of his sister, Lynn Ann McKinnon, in nearby Tango.

She was unpacking after a family trip to Glasgow. He pulled up and walked past her, gun raised..

Within a few steps she was indoors, where she shot her husband, John, in the kitchen.

McDonald passed his sister as he walked back to his car, but said nothing.

Mrs. MacKinnon ran into her house and found her husband standing at the kitchen sink.

The 47-year-old distillery worker collapsed in his arms and died despite the efforts of emergency services.

MacDonald, meanwhile, was on his way to Dorney.

Police responding to a 999 call about an attack on Rowena Macdonald spotted her Subaru and followed her into the village near Alain Donan Castle in Wester Ross.

Officers McDonald was advised not to stop. And it was reported that armed personnel were also responding to the incident.

He was on his way to the home of John MacKenzie – a retired osteopath who MacDonald accused of exacerbating a back injury.

When he arrived, he shot 65-year-old Fay McKenzie through the window of the home.

Mr McKenzie, who had been outside feeding the pigs, arrived home and quickly realized something was wrong.

The 65-year-old was shot in the back trying to save his wife as she sought safety in the bathroom.

The couple then tackled McDonald’s. Mr. McKenzie wrestled the gun from him. And Mrs McKenzie hit her attacker with a “heavy” metal toilet roll holder.

He hit McDonald at least twice before hearing a voice: “That’ll do.”

Then he saw that the police were in the house.

An officer used a spray similar to pepper spray on McDonald, but it had no effect. Another officer then beat him with a baton while his partner used a taser.

Macdonald’s attacks were carried out with a pump-action shotgun he bought for £625.

He had held a firearms license for 15 months and told police he owned six guns.

The court heard Mr Macdonald suffered from autism and post-traumatic stress disorder at the time of the attacks. With background depression, anxiety and personality disorders.

He told a consultant forensic psychiatrist that he had difficulties coping with people and situations and saw himself as a victim.

MacDonald alleged that he had previously been beaten in a fight with Mr MacKinnon, and said the incident It made him feel humiliated.

Judge Lady Drummond said Mr MacKinnon’s relatives felt they had lost the life and soul of the family after it was taken from them.

He said even though the jury rejected the claim of diminished responsibility, McDonald’s health issues still had to be taken into account and he recognized Did he show remorse?

Lady Drummond also said the jury had rejected the claim he was motivated to attack his wife by “sexual infidelity”.

The attacks sent shockwaves through the Western Highlands, where incidents of extreme violence are rare.

Reverend Gordon Matheson, a local Free Church pastor, knew MacDonald because their children were about the same age.

“I went to school running and soccer practice,” he said.

“There’s a sense of betrayal throughout the community – it’s one of us who has killed one of our own.”

John Finlayson, councilor for Skye and Raleigh, said: “I don’t think we should underestimate the impact this will have on so many people.

“Not just those directly affected by this incident, but the wider community as well.

“The affected communities are probably still bearing the brunt and the healing process is still ongoing.”

He added: “I’m sure people will continue to need support.

“For some there is closure, but for some that may never happen.”

Additional reporting by Steven Godden, Alasdair McLeod, Morgan Spence, Chris McLennan, Iain McInnes and Edinburgh Courts Press Services.