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

Finlay MacDonald, 41, beat his wife Rowena at their home on the Isle of Skye several times before driving 10 miles to another village, where he shot and killed his brother-in-law John MacKinnon.

The marine engineer then drove for another 40 miles before Fay MacKenzie and her husband John were shot in their home on the Scottish mainland.

Despite their injuries, the MacKenzies fought back and wrestled the weapon from MacDonald before the police tackled him.

Father-of-four Macdonald denied all the charges and claimed he was mentally deranged at the time.

But he was found guilty by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh, which deliberated for just over two hours.

MacDonald was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 28 years before he can apply for parole.

Judge Lady Drummond told MacDonald he was guilty of “a series of brutal and mindless attacks”.

The attacks took place over a period of about an hour, starting before 09:00 on Wednesday 10 August 2022, in the final days of the school summer holidays.

The first incident took place in the house of the MacDonald family in Tarscabhaig on the Sléibhte peninsula, an area in the south of the Isle of Skye where about 750 people live.

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

The court heard he was upset by text messages he saw exchanged between Mrs MacDonald, 34, and her boss.

The couple struggled over her phone, before MacDonald took a knife from his pocket and started stabbing.

The four young children heard her screaming 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.

she said the court she remembered going to her phone to raise the alarm, and that her children were next to her as she became weaker and weaker.

Mrs MacDonald heard her husband making several trips to and from the car before he drove off.

The court later heard that it was “enough ammunition to start a small war”.

He then went to his sister Lyn Anne MacKinnon’s house in nearby Tongue.

She was out unpacking a car after a family trip to Glasgow when he pulled up and walked past her carrying a gun.

Within a few steps he was inside the house, where he dropped her husband Seán in the kitchen.

MacDonald glared at his sister as he walked back out to his car, but said nothing.

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

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

Macdonald, meanwhile, was in charge of Doreen.

Police responding to the 999 call about the attack on Rowena MacDonald saw his Subaru and followed it to the village, near Eilean Donnan Castle in West Ross.

Officers They were advised not to stop MacDonald and were told that armed officers were also responding to the incident.

He was going to the home of John MacKenzie – a retired osteopath who MacDonald blamed for exacerbating a back injury.

When he arrived he shot 65-year-old Fay MacKenzie through the window of the house.

Mr MacKenzie, who had been outside feeding pigs, came home and quickly realized something was wrong.

The 65-year-old man was shot in the back while trying to protect his wife as they sought safety in a bathroom.

The couple then confronted MacDonald. Mr. MacKenzie threw the gun away and Mrs MacKenzie hit her attacker with a “hefty” metal toilet roll holder.

She met MacDonald at least twice before hearing a voice say: “That will do.”

It was then that she noticed the police were in the house.

One officer used a spray similar to pepper spray on MacDonald but it did not appear to have any effect. Another officer then hit him with a baton and his colleague used a Taser.

MacDonald’s attacks were carried out with an action shotgun he bought for £625.

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

The court heard Mr MacDonald was affected by autism and post-traumatic stress disorder at the time of the attacks. with depression, anxiety and personality disorder in the background.

He told a consultant forensic psychiatrist that he had difficulties dealing 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 left him humiliated.

Judge Lady Drummond said that Mr Mackinnon’s relatives felt as if they had lost the life and soul of the family after he was taken from them.

She said although jurors rejected a claim of diminished responsibility, MacDonald’s health issues still had to be taken into account and she acknowledged his remorse.

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

The attacks sent shock waves through the western Highlands, where there have been incidents of extreme violence.

The Reverend Gordon Matheson, who was a local pastor of the Free Church, knew Macdonald as their children were around the same age.

“I got to know him on the school run and football training,” he said.

“Throughout the community there is a sense of commitment – here is one of us who killed another of our time.”

Skye and Ratharsair councilor John Finlayson said: “I don’t think we should underestimate the impact it has had on so many people.

“Not only those who were directly affected by the incident, but the general public as well.

“The affected communities will probably still carry the scars and the healing process is still ongoing.”

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

“There is closure for some, but for some people that may not happen.”

Additional reporting by Steven Godden, Alasdair Macleod, Morgan Spence, Chris MacLennan, Iain Macinnes and Edinburgh Courts Press Services.