Man accused of killing peregrine falcon fails to appear at Perth Sheriff Court

Oct 2 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A HUNTSMAN accused of bagging a rare bird of prey on a Perthshire estate failed to appear at Perth Sheriff Court.

Alexander Gordon McKinlay (46), of Keltie Place, Doune, faces a charge of either recklessly or maliciously shooting dead a protected hybrid peregrine falcon.

The offence, brought under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, is alleged to have taken place at Braco Castle Estate last February 19.

McKinlay has also been charged with stealing a falconry transmitter. A third charge alleges that between February 22 and 23, he offered an envelope containing £200 to Lynn Hallgarth as compensation for the loss of the falcon and the transmitter.

McKinlay allegedly told her the lives of people on the estate would be “made difficult” if police were contacted in a bid to pervert the course of justice.

The accused had his case continued without plea until October 20.