The former First Minister of Scotland, The Rt. Hon. Alex Salmond, will appear for trial at Edinburgh High Court tomorrow accused of fourteen sexual offences.
We are stepping outside our normal jurisdiction to mention what should be the most fascinating of Scottish cases. It will no doubt dominate the headlines for weeks to come and could have significant implications for the future of the United Kingdom.
All of the offences are alleged to have occurred during Mr Salmond's tenure as Leader of the Scottish National Party and First Minister of Scotland. Several of them are alleged to have occurred in the First Minister's official residence, Bute House, or other Scottish Government buildings.
In 2018 Mr Salmond took legal action against the Scottish Government over its handling of sexual misconduct complaints made against him. Mr Salmond won the case when the Scottish Government admitted breaching policy by appointing an investigating officer with prior knowledge of the complainants. In August 2019 Mr Salmond received £512,000 from the Scottish Government in settlement of his legal fees.
In November 2019, Mr Salmond told reporters: "We are now into our second year of court actions, first civil, now criminal. It's over 10 months since we won the civil action.
"I'm innocent and I will defend my position vigorously. But the only proper place to answer criminal charges is in this court and that's exactly what we intend to do next spring."
As next spring is now here, it is worth reminding readers of the fourteen charges against Mr Salmond. They are:
1. Attempted rape of a woman in June 2014 at the first minister's official Bute House residence in Edinburgh. He is alleged to have pinned a woman against a wall and to have removed her clothes and his own, before pushing her onto a bed and lying naked on top of her;
2. Indecent assault of a woman on a number of occasions in Glasgow in June and July 2008 by kissing her on the mouth and touching her buttocks and breasts with his hands over her clothing;
3. Sexual assault of the same woman in December 2010 or December 2011 in the Ego nightclub in Edinburgh by touching her arms and hips with his hands over her clothing;
4. Indecent assault of a woman in October or November 2010 at Bute House by repeatedly seizing her by the wrists and repeatedly pulling her towards him and attempting to kiss her;
5. Sexual assault of a woman in a car in Edinburgh in February 2011 by touching her leg with his hand over her clothing;
6. Sexual assault of a woman on various occasions between 2011 and 2013 at Bute House, the Scottish Parliament and other locations by touching her buttocks with his hands over her clothing, stroking her arms, and touching and stroking her hair;
7. Sexual assault of a woman at Bute House in October 2013 by removing her foot from her shoe, stroking her foot, lifting her foot towards his mouth and attempting to kiss her foot;
8. Sexual assault of a woman at Bute House in November or December 2013 by kissing her on the mouth;
9. Intention to rape the same woman in December 2013 at Bute House by causing her to sit on a bed, lying on top of her, making sexual remarks to her, touching her buttocks, thighs and breasts over her clothing with his hands, repeatedly kissing her face, struggling with her and pulling up her dress;
10. Sexual assault of a woman in 2012 at the Ubiquitous Chip restaurant in Glasgow by touching her buttocks with his hand over her clothing;
11. Sexual assault of the same woman at Bute House in April 2014 by placing his arm around her, making sexual remarks to her and attempting to kiss her;
12. Sexual assault of a woman at Bute House in May 2014 by placing his arm around her body, placing his hand under her clothing and underwear and touching her breast, repeatedly kissing her on the face and neck and stroking her leg with his hand;
13. Sexual assault of a woman at Bute House in September 2014 by seizing her by the shoulders, repeatedly kissing her on the face, attempting to kiss her on the lips and touching her leg and face with his hand;
14. Sexual assault of a woman at Stirling Castle in November 2014 by touching her buttock with his hand over her clothing.
The trial is expected to last around four weeks.
Update (23/3/20): The verdict is now in.
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