'Monkey Man' who murdered love rival on island dies months after prison release
A killer dubbed the 'Monkey Man' who brutally murdered his love rival on a remote island has died just months after being released from prison.
John 'Jack' Campbell was ordered to spend at least 16 years behind bars after battering Robert Rose to death on Sanday, Orkney, in June 2009. He was released last year on compassionate grounds. The 73-year-old, who is originally from the Falkirk area, was found guilty of murdering the Yorkshireman after he began a relationship with Campbell’s former girlfriend. The 54-year-old’s body was discovered in sand dunes after a two-week police hunt.
Mr Rose had moved to the island from Rotherham for a “fresh start” following the death of his wife the previous year. Campbell, a former monkey keeper, is understood to have died on Sunday following a battle with cancer.
Robert Rose was murdered on Sanday, Orkney, in June 2009 (PA)A source told the Daily Record: “He was released from prison on compassionate grounds last year because he had cancer. He died on Sunday. It’s the talk of the village where his family still stays.” A long-running trial at the High Court in Glasgow in 2010 heard how Campbell had threatened to kill Mr Rose after he began seeing his ex-partner Margaret Johnston.
He then murdered his victim in his own home with the help of friend Stephen Crummack, who was later found guilty of culpable homicide. Both were also convicted of defeating the ends of justice by concealing Mr Rose's body and driving his car to Loth Pier to make it look as though he had left the island on a ferry.
Double killer who slit girlfriend's throat within weeks of release jailed
During sentencing, Lord Turnbull told Campbell: "You have been convicted of his murder, motivated it seems by your dislike of him and your reaction to his involvement with your former partner. You still protest your innocence. You lied to the police and made considerable efforts to make sure his body was not discovered. Despite all your efforts, you were undone by your inability not to boast about your conduct to a fellow inmate.”
Campbell was sentenced to life in prison and told he must serve at least 16 years before being considered for parole. Crummack was jailed for 11 years in total - 10 years for the culpable homicide and an additional year for the second charge.
The judge told Crummack, who led police to where Mr Rose's body was buried in the sand dunes: "You have been found responsible for the killing of Mr Rose, but not to the same extent. "Your conscience did come to lead you to assist the police in a significant way. If you had not done so it is not possible to see how the police inquiry would have ended."
Following the conviction, Mr Rose's daughter Katie said: "Words can't describe how much of an impact this has had on our family and close friends. "Our dad was a great man. He was kind and generous. The kind of man who always left a good impression. No matter how long the sentence, it will never replace the life that has been taken."
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