Shot girl family's tribute to her gamekeeper boyfriend - Scottish Daily Record

Apr 16 2011 Sally Hinds

A TEENAGER'S parents yesterday emotionally praised the boyfriend who accidentally shot and killed her.

Tragic gamekeeper Calum Murray, 18, turned his gun on himself moments after it went off and killed his 16-year-old sweetheart Sophie Taylor.

He is believed to have been cleaning the weapon at his home in Tomintoul, Moray, when it accidentally discharged and hit Sophie.

Yesterday, schoolgirl Sophie's parents said the couple were in love and the incident was a "dreadful accident".

Dad David, 41, said the family remembered Calum as a "really good lad".

Sophie's mum Katie, 44, said they had been "very sweet together".

She added: "She loved him."

More than 100 school pupils gathered at Aberlour Church to pay tribute to the couple and light candles in their memory following the horrific shooting on Tuesday.

And more than 5000 people have visited social networking sites set up in tribute to the pair.

The tiny Tomintoul community was still coming to terms with the loss yesterday.

Shopkeeper Mary Taylor, 59, fought back tears as she remembered Sophie.

"When I heard about it I thought, 'I hope it isn't her' and then I saw her picture in the paper," she said.

"It's just so sad, such a young life."

In Alford, where Calum went to secondary school, Adam Wood, 16, said: "He was a really nice, quiet guy.

"Everyone has been really shocked."