Skye shotgun killer launches bid to have conviction quashed
A man who murdered his brother-in-law and attempted to kill three other people is to appeal his conviction and life sentence.
Finlay MacDonald, 41, was jailed for a minimum of 28 years for murdering John MacKinnon and repeatedly stabbed his wife, Rowena MacDonald, 34, during an attack at their home on Skye in August 2022.
A two-week trial heard how he left her lying drenched in her own blood on the driveway in front of their young children before driving to his sister’s home on the other side of the Sleat peninsula, where he fatally shot his 47-year-old brother-in-law.
MacDonald then set off to the village of Dornie in Wester Ross where he shot married couple Fay and John MacKenzie before being apprehended.
He denied all charges and claimed he was suffering from an abnormality of mind at the time but was found guilty by a jury and ordered to serve the near-30 years at a sentencing hearing on Friday.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) however has now confirmed it has been notified MacDonald intends to appeal both his conviction and length of the sentence.
If successful, it could see him released, or the time he needs to spend behind bars significantly reduced.
Jurors were told MacDonald confronted his wife over messages on her phone to her male boss, where she had discussed the ending of their marriage, and although Mrs MacDonald claimed her colleague was merely a friend, the accused produced a knife from his pocket and launched into a frenzied attack.
Mrs MacDonald told the court: "Both lungs had been punctured - with every breath I took I was openly squelching blood."
The couple’s young children helped to keep their mother conscious at the home in Tarskavaig until emergency services arrived and airlifted her to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. When interviewed by police, MacDonald claimed he had suffered a "moment of madness".
On the day of the shooting, MacDonald arrived at Mr MacKinnon’s home in Teangue and claimed his brother-in-law "came towards" him, so he shot him.
Mrs MacKinnon, who had spotted her younger brother enter the family home with a gun before hearing the blasts, tried in vain to save her husband’s life.
The court heard at the time of the events, MacDonald had undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder, personality disorder and post-traumatic stress.
Judge Lady Drummond described his crimes as "brutal and mindlessly violent".
No date has been fixed as yet for MacDonald’s hearings, but they are expected to take place in the new year in Edinburgh.
Sign up to our daily Newsletter
Permission Statement
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.
You may also like
Oban Times letters to the editor: April 3
Martin Laing at Large
Oban Times: From our Files - April 4
Oban Times Leader: Keeping with tradition
Sign up to our daily Newsletters
Permission Statement
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.
© 2025 Wyvex Media Limited.