Key Points
- Defendant: Simone Ramage, 41, shot and killed her partner, Brian Kowbel, at their shared home in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders.
- Incident: The shooting occurred on 17 February 2023, leaving Mr Kowbel with injuries that led to his death at Borders General Hospital in Melrose.
- Legal ruling: Judge John Morris KC found Ramage responsible for the killing following an examination of facts hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh.
- Unfit for trial: Judge Susan Craig ruled in March 2025 that Ramage was unfit to stand trial due to a mental disorder, triggering the examination of facts instead of a criminal trial.
- Firearms charge: Judge Morris KC also determined that Ramage possessed an air rifle without holding a firearm certificate.
- Sentence deferred: Final proceedings were scheduled for 15 September 2026 at Edinburgh High Court but have been deferred to 7 October 2026 for a pre-sentencing criminal justice social work report.
EDINBURGH (Edinburgh Daily) September 15, 2026 — As reported by national media outlets covering proceedings at Edinburgh High Court, Judge John Morris KC confirmed during a brief hearing on Tuesday that final disposal of the case against Simone Ramage would be postponed until 7 October 2026 to allow time for the completion of essential background reports.
Ramage, residing in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, shot her partner, Brian Kowbel, in the body at their residential address on 17 February 2023. Mr Kowbel sustained critical bodily injuries from the air rifle projectile and was subsequently transported to Borders General Hospital in Melrose, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Why Was the Case Heard as an Examination of Facts Rather Than a Standard Trial?
Under Scots law, an examination of facts is conducted when a defendant is formally deemed unfit to stand trial due to an underlying mental condition. As documented in court records, Judge Susan Craig ruled in March 2025 that Ramage was mentally unfit to participate in standard criminal trial proceedings.
Consequently, the High Court in Edinburgh conducted an examination of facts hearing earlier this year to determine the factual events surrounding the death of Mr Kowbel. Following the evidence presented, Judge John Morris KC ruled that Ramage was responsible for the killing. Additionally, the judge established that she had committed a statutory firearms offence by possessing an air weapon without holding the mandatory firearm certificate.
Why Has the Sentencing Hearing Been Delayed Until October 2026?
The final disposal of the case had originally been scheduled to take place at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday, 15 September 2026. However, the court was informed that the requisite pre-sentencing documentation was incomplete. Ramage was not present in the courtroom during the short hearing.
Addressing the court regarding the delay, Judge Morris KC stated that further formal assessment was required prior to determining the appropriate disposal order.
“After some discussion with the clerk I will need a social work report,” Judge Morris KC stated to the court. “I will call for a criminal justice social work report and defer it to October 7 in Edinburgh. It is hoped we can hit the nail on the head then.”
The court order ensures that social work authorities will prepare a full report on Ramage’s circumstances ahead of the revised court appearance on 7 October 2026.
Background of the Galashiels Air Rifle Shooting Case
The legal proceedings stem from an incident on 17 February 2023 in Galashiels, a town situated within the Scottish Borders region. Emergency services were dispatched to the property shared by Simone Ramage and Brian Kowbel following reports of an air rifle discharge. Mr Kowbel received emergency care at the scene for a torso wound before being transferred to Borders General Hospital in nearby Melrose, where medical staff were unable to save his life.
Subsequent police investigations established that the air rifle used in the shooting was held without the required legal licensing. Air weapon ownership in Scotland has been governed by strict statutory controls under the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015, which makes it an offence to own or use an air rifle without an air weapon certificate unless specific exemptions apply.
Following her arrest, concerns regarding Ramage’s psychological state were raised, leading to medical evaluations. In March 2025, Judge Susan Craig ruled her unfit to stand trial, triggering the legal mechanism of an examination of facts under section 55 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. This procedure allows the court to establish whether the accused committed the actus reus (the physical act) of the offence, despite being incapable of participating in a conventional criminal trial.
Earlier in 2026, Judge John Morris KC concluded the examination of facts by formally ruling that Ramage had inflicted the fatal shot and had maintained possession of an uncertified firearm.
Prediction: How This Development May Affect the Community and Air Weapon Licensing Framework
The postponement of disposal to October 2026 prolongs the legal resolution for the local community in Galashiels and the family of Brian Kowbel. Delayed court dispositions in high-profile homicide cases often prolong the emotional impact on surviving relatives awaiting formal legal closure.
From a legislative and judicial policy standpoint, cases involving fatal air rifle discharges tend to renew public and regulatory focus on air weapon regulations across Scotland. While Scotland introduced compulsory air weapon certification in 2017 to track ownership and enforce medical background checks, instances of fatal incidents involving unlicensed weapons highlight ongoing enforcement challenges for regional police forces.
Furthermore, the outcome of Ramage’s sentencing on 7 October 2026 will serve as a legal reference for how Scottish High Courts handle disposals involving individuals deemed unfit to stand trial who have committed serious violent acts. Depending on the findings of the criminal justice social work report, the court may consider institutional psychiatric care orders or specialized supervision structures rather than traditional custodial sentencing, demonstrating the balance between public safety and mental health management within the Scottish criminal justice system.
